Page 136 of Her Dark Promise

I could see the look of disappointment on both of their faces because I didn’t include them.

“You need to also promise that you won’t use your magic to find the blade and try to kill yourself again.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

He looked at his brother, who nodded and then looked back at me. “Deal.”

Chapter twenty-five

Bastian would not allow me to heal until after a few days of eating and drinking consistently. He took his role as my caretaker seriously, and only when I kept my food down did he re-offer me the deal and stop cutting me.

Soren had set up an area in the chapel to read over the books, but would come in to check on me throughout the day. He stated that keeping away from me all those days before was unbearable, and he would never subject himself to that kind of torture again.

I would never tell him this, but every time he said it, a part of me would melt at the dramatics of it all. And when I thought of one brother, the other wasn’t far behind. I found myself often fantasizing about the brothers’ lips. Soren’s attention to detail and Bastian’s passionate abandon.

I absentmindedly touched my lips as I thought back to that kiss with Bastian. It was everything I had dreamed about but would never have given away voluntarily. Yet he took it, which seemed to be a theme throughout his life. He simply took what he wanted, and what he now wanted was me. If he was to be believed.

He wouldn’t stop telling me everything he loved about me, including my sharp wit. As much as I wanted to believe him, I couldn’t. Not yet.

We were all in the library because Soren had come in the night before to tell us that he needed help going through the enormous stack of texts and documents. I stretched, feeling my magic humming beneath my skin as if it were telling me that it was happy to be back and connected with me.

I looked out the window and wondered when Emilia was going to make an appearance. I was content in giving her space, but it was proving to be quite a challenge as the days dragged on. I would often sit outside her room and wait for her. Sometimes, her nightmares woke her from sleep, and it would take everything in me not to burst through her door.

I blew out a breath and told myself that if she didn’t come out today, then I would drag her out just as Bastian did to me.

I heard books slam against the table that Bastian and Callum brought in. I snapped,“Be careful with the books. They are far older than even myself, and I don’t need idiotic boys ruining them.”

“Can you please drop the ‘boy’ thing? Having fucked you and then being called ‘boy’ is rather absurd,” said Bastian.

I could see Soren stiffen as Bastian said that so callously. I knew he only said that to get a reaction out of his brother. It was childish, but fun to watch.

They pulled all the books that Soren gathered from the chapel and brought them in, but there were hundreds more in my secret room. I walked over to the portrait, hesitant to share another part of me, but knowing that I had promised to give them a shot at breaking the curse. I took a breath, lifted my hand to the book, and pulled.

The hidden door opened, and Callum exclaimed. “Woah! I had no idea this was back here.”

“That was the point, little bird.”

Bastian looked to Soren to share in this moment of surprise and found that Soren was smiling wide. I wanted to roll my eyes, knowing that he loved to be in on this little secret with me.

“You knew, didn't you,” Bastian asked incredulously. “How could you keep something like this from me?”

Soren looked at his older brother and said, “Don’t be jealous brother, it is not a good look on you.” He patted Bastian’s back as he walked into the small room.

Bastian and Callum shuffled in after Soren to get a good look at the space. “And remember pets, set themgentlyon the table.”

Soren stuck his head out of the doorway and raised an eyebrow. “You think calling us ‘pets’ is better than ‘boys’?”

I lifted a shoulder. “It’s one or the other. I wouldn’t want you to think that I like any of you.”

I could hear Bastian scoff. “You seemed to like me the other day.”

Soren shot his brother a glare, knowing that Bastian was taunting him.

Callum groaned, and stepped inside the room. “As much as I love imagining her grace naked, can we please get to the task at hand?”

Ever the peacekeeper. Seconds later, he walked out with a stack of books in his hands. It didn’t take long before all of the books were set up along the table, everyone taking a seat.

Soren walked over to sit next to me, much to his brother’s protests, and said, “I have read through all of these.” He pointed to a stack of books at the far end of the table. “I found some relevant information, but even after hearing and…” he continued hesitantly, “seeing her grace’s past, I am no closer to breaking it. Though I have some theories.”

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