Page 139 of Her Dark Promise

“Seriously? All I did was stretch,” I teased.

“In our defense, you are stunning,” Bastian said, leaning forward, resting his head on top of one of the books, eyes darkening.

I scoffed, rolled my eyes, and sat back down. “Keep dreaming, hunter.”

I leaned back onto the cushion of the chaise and began to read again when he said, “Oh, I do. Often.”

My eyes snapped to him over the top of the book, thinking about the words left hanging in the room. I knew exactly what he was insinuating, what he was offering.

“Blatantly flirting with me?” I said, my attention back on the book, flipping through the pages. Not wanting to look directly into his eyes because I knew I would have him take me right there, but I wasn’t ready.

“How else are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that I am yours?”

“When you stop with whatever it is you think is going to get you back in my good graces.” Then I laughed, the sound strained. “It’s rather funny if you think I am going to let you fuck me again.”

He closed his book and slowly leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “You don’t have to like me to fuck me, your grace. I think you rather enjoy how rough it can get after one of our arguments. So…is this foreplay?”

Soren cleared his throat. “I would rather not be privy to whatever game this is. Some of us would like to help find a way to break the curse.”

I rolled my eyes and ignored his comment. He hadn’t touched me in weeks, but I knew he was thinking about our time just as much as I was. I could tell from the longing looks he would give me when he thought I wasn’t looking.

We all went back to reading, and when there wasn’t enough light for us to continue reading, I recommended that we all get some sleep and start fresh in the morning. I set my almost finished book on the end table next to my chair and looked toward Callum, my smile turning wicked. It had been too long since I had him balls deep inside me.

I spared a glance at Bastian and found him staring at me from under his lashes. The look he was giving Callum and I promised punishment. His eyes had darkened, a deep green so dark that they appeared black in the light.

He strode out without another word, and Soren went with him, stopping in front of me to say, “You’re playing a losing game with him. Once he has set his eyes on something, he gets it.”

“I think you forget who the beast is.”

He slowly shook his head as he passed us.

Sometimes, I wondered what they thought about me, knowing that they each wanted me badly. That thought led to other salacious thoughts about the both of them in my bed. I groaned at the mental image that assaulted me, and I opened my eyes, focusing on Callum. I needed release.

I stood and saw that Emilia hadn’t moved. She’d lit a small candle beside her.

“Emilia?”

She looked up and nodded, bidding me goodnight.

I grabbed Callum by the front of his shirt and pulled him from the room.

Chapter twenty-six

We were back bright and early the next day. I felt insanely relaxed after Callum thoroughly fucked me. He took his time with me until I was a wriggling mess and came all over his face.

I sighed in pleasure at the memory, smiling to myself as I ignored the rest of them, knowing they had heard me, and knew who put a smile on my face.

More hours passed as I finished the book and started a newer, shorter one. I finished it by the time the light faded from the room. I conjured balls of light for each of us so that we could continue reading into the night.

After two full days, nothing had been accomplished besides a dip in morale, not to my surprise. I had warned them that this wouldn’t be as easy as they thought. I think Soren only suggested it to keep my mind clear of darker thoughts.

He would be horrified to find out just how dark my thoughts already were.

I got up and walked to the window, needing a reprieve from the monotony of reading. I carefully crossed my arms and leaned against the windowsill, staring out at the garden below.

My beloved rose garden. I planted the garden a few years after everyone died in front of the castle so that I could see it every day. I don’t know why I did it as I was still so full of a raging anger that I suppose I just needed to focus on something good. Something that helped me to not forget the past.

Roses were Belle’s favorite flowers. She used to tell me that they were her favorite because it was part of my name, part of me. Having the garden reminded me that I needed to be strong for her. That I wouldn’t allow Circe to break me. I never realized that I had been broken long before Circe arrived.

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