Page 129 of Her Dark Promise

My body felt numb, but I had given her my word that I wouldn’t bother her until she was ready.

I could hear Bastian next to me, grumbling something that I had effectively tuned out, but it was only causing him to be louder. I rolled my eyes and splashed him with the bath water. I didn’t even spare him a second glance as I continued staring straight ahead, not focusing on anything in particular.

“Was that truly necessary?”

“Are you annoyed?”

“Yes.”

“Then it worked.” I tried to flick more water toward him, but he was quicker than I was at the moment and caught my hand in midair.

I slid my eyes to him and saw only compassion in his eyes. “I don’t know what Emilia said to you, but she will come around.”

I tried to rip my hand out of his grasp, but he simply tightened his hold. “She loves you. She just needs to be alone.”

“I should be there for her,” I persisted. “I’ve been what she’s needed for years, the only person she has trusted.” I paused. “You should have seen the way she looked at me.”

He let go of my wrist and dangled his arm along the edge of the tub, his fingers barely dipping into the milky water, and shrugged. “We’re all allowed anger from time to time.”

I sighed and brought my knees up to my chest, closing my eyes. I willed Callum to hurry and come back from whatever errand Bastian had sent him on. I thought Callum was a mother hen; no, Bastian was much worse.

“Speaking of anger, you’re suffocating me.”

Water splashed on me, and I screamed as Bastian said, “Good try, but that won’t work. I told you I am not leaving you alone again, and I meant it.”

I growled, and he flicked my nose, reveling in this power switch. “Now come, you need rest.” He grabbed a towel and lifted it, demanding without words that it was time for me to get out.

“I will kill you.”

He smirked. “I love it when you flirt with me.”

I seethed but stood, or else I knew he would lift me out.

I waited while he wrapped the towel around my body and helped me out of the tub, much to my protest. Everything was a battle of wills with him.

Circe had quieted down since I left Emilia. My mind was momentarily clear, and I was ready to sleep, even if the nightmares came. My eyes felt so heavy.

I walked into my boudoir and let the towel fall to the ground. Callum was there waiting, hands holding a nightgown. I raised my arms and winced from the movement. He bunched it up and lifted it over my head. I gently moved my arms to put through the holes. He placed a hand on my lower back and led me out of the room.

I looked up to find Bastian leaning against the doorframe, arms, and feet crossed with a dark look in his eyes. I couldn’t focus on anything other than getting back into bed.

“Callum, she needs to wear something with short sleeves.” To slice into the wound on my arm. At this point, if I didn’t get my powers back, it would scar. Did it even matter?

I huffed as I passed him, reached up, and tore the sleeve right off. I didn’t say a word as I threw the ripped sleeve to the ground and stalked to my bed. Callum ran past me, lifted the blanket, and held his hand out for me to grasp if I needed any assistance.

I wanted this to end. All I felt was either pity or anger. The notion that they would all be better without me was still prevalent in my mind.

Out of spite, I crawled into bed and fell face-first into the pillows as my arms gave out. Callum helped me to turn over and swiped the hair out of my face as Bastian chuckled behind him.

“What a view.”

He was doing anything to get a reaction out of me, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of letting him see that he was getting under my skin.

I pulled the covers up to my chin and closed my eyes. “You can leave now.”

Although I knew they wouldn’t leave, I didn’t expect what happened next. I felt my bed dip. My eyes sprang open as I turned to find a smiling Bastian lying on his side with his head resting in his hand.

“Get off.”

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