Page 127 of Her Dark Promise

You should be. She will leave just like everyone else.

“Mercy, Circe, mercy.” I stopped, squeezing my eyes shut.

“Your grace?” Callum asked.

I opened my eyes to find that I was standing directly in front of Emilia’s door. I didn’t turn toward them as I knew that Callum was most likely aware of what my actions meant. Knew that I was talking to myself but was too kind to say anything. I focused back on the door.

I lifted my hand and knocked hard three times. I don’t remember the last time I announced my presence. Someone either did it for me, or I would simply burst into any room.

I waited for her to open it, then waited a little longer.

My nerves were getting the best of me when Callum stepped forward and said through the door, “Miss Emilia, her grace is here to see you.” He took a step behind me and whispered, “Maybe she is sleeping and didn’t hear you.”

Ever the mother hen, attempting to smooth over any conflict between family. I ignored him and didn’t have to wait another moment before one of the doors opened, and Emilia stuck her head shyly around the door.

I couldn’t say anything as I took in her appearance. She looked ghastly; she clearly hadn’t eaten, her hair was in disarray, dark circles lined her eyes, and her cheeks were sunken in. Just how I felt, as I hadn’t looked at myself in a mirror in so long.

We were both wasting away, but I couldn’t understand how she had changed so drastically. Our last conversation was good. Or so I thought.

Her head was bowed. I gathered my strength and asked, “Are you going to allow me in?”

I could see her face flush as she stepped aside and bowed even further. “Of course, your majesty.”

I started to move forward and stopped, knowing full well that they both were about to follow, but I did not want either of them to be privy to this conversation. “You will wait out here until we are done.”

“But—” Bastian started to protest.

“I am still the queen and if you want my cooperation in the future, you will listen to me and stay outside.”

I could feel him wrestling with himself, then finally conceding as he stepped back and closed the door.

We were shrouded in darkness until I opened the blinds to her room. It was light enough that we didn’t need to light any candles to see each other. I turned around to find her hands wrapped around her waist, eyes darting around the room as if she were looking for someone. My eyes roved around but found nothing.

The silence was deafening as I stared at her terrified form. Was she still worried about their father? Still scared of the past?

“Let’s sit.” I began to move toward the fireplace, where there were two chairs situated in front of it and a small round table in between. I slowly sank into the chair, but Emilia stayed where she was, fidgeting with her hands.

I couldn’t wait any longer and asked, “What’s wrong?”

She tensed and looked away. I wanted to comfort her, but it seemed as though she didn’t want me to.

“Emilia…” My voice was pained as I pleaded with her.

She finally looked at me with tears in her eyes, not even bothering to wipe them away. “There’s something wrong with me.”

My heart sank. “What do you mean?”

“Something doesn’t feel right.”

I stood back up at her admission and found her body shaking heavily.

“Are you sick?” I placed the back of my hand on her forehead and felt that she was burning up. “Why didn’t you come to me sooner? I would have given you my blood.”

I bit into my palm and held my hand up to her as she tensed, pushing me away from her. “You aren’t listening!”

My body froze. Every instinct was on high alert. She had never raised her voice so much at me. I could feel the anxiety seeping out of every pore of my body.

“My body no longer feels like my own. I have tried to fight it, but I don’t know if I can anymore. And the voices…the voices aregetting louder.” She looked at me and pointed at her head. Her lip quivered. “Make it stop.”

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