Page 146 of Her Dark Promise

Circe opened her mouth to reply, but Audra cut her off with a hiss. “And if she were willing to kill her own blood, what makes you think every kingdom around us will not turn on her the second they find out she is one of us? Don’t you understand, Circe? There’s no peace. There’s no world where we can coexist. They have made it so.”

They were silent for a moment before Circe continued, “That child is more powerful than the entire coven combined. She haspowers she hasn’t even begun to tap into yet.” She pondered to herself. “How that blasted king became blessed with a witch of such magnitude is a cruel joke. But perhaps, she is our savior.”

Audra shook her head firmly. “We are at war, Circe. Kill the royal family… That is the mission. Spare none of them. I will tell the others to be in position when the moon has peaked at its highest. We will be ready.”

I dropped my hand and the ball of light, my memory, with it. When I was young, her plan felt like a stab in the heart, but in the memory, she looked vulnerable—desperate. At the very least, she believed in me and tried to fight for my safety.

I looked over to see Emilia crying, her hand shaking as she dried the tears with her napkin.

“How? How did you not rip her apart?”

“I hated her, and…I loved her in some ways. I had a family, but they didn’t understand me. Not like Circe. Finding out her plan broke my heart. I couldn’t feel rage, not in the moment.” Truthfully, I still couldn’t sort through the mess of emotions I felt when it came to that witch.

I reached across the table, took another sandwich from the plate, and ate it in a few bites. I didn’t know what else to say. Quite frankly, I was growing rather exhausted from all the talking and was about to excuse myself when Emilia asked an intriguing question.

“Could you ever forgive her?”

“No,” I said without thinking, and my heart felt the pain all over again. Though, I wasn’t sure if my answer was the truth. Before Callum, before Emilia, she was all I had in these lonely castle walls.

Emilia’s gaze was solemn in response. “Do you think they’ll find a way to break your curse?”

I gave her a small smile. “Gods no, but it’s keeping them busy, isn’t it?”

A grin pulled at her lips.

When she smiled, I was about to say something else—perhaps how beautiful she looked, but then doubled over in pain. Her hands shot out to apply pressure to her lower abdomen. She fell backward.

“Emilia? Emilia!”

“Your majesty, I need to tell you something!” Her eyes were wide with fear. Where was this coming from?

“Tell me?” I grabbed her shoulders tightly.

“It hurts…”

She clenched her teeth and bowed her head to bear through the pain. I took the knife from the table, cut myself, and was seconds away from putting it to her lips when she pulled away.

“Emilia?”

Her breathing was hard as she took a moment to catch her breath and then looked up at me. “I highly apologize. I must be tired from all the research that we have been doing lately. I think I will take my leave and lie down for a while.”

“Do you need me to help you? Please, let me help you.”

“No! No, please, I will be fine. I haven’t slept in days…I’m just not myself.” She bowed her head. “Thank you for sharing your story with me. I am honored.” And then left.

“Emilia, stop!”

I watched her as she rounded the corner back to her chambers. I started to follow them all when a familiar voice called to me.

She is hiding something from you, Callie. Perhaps we are not so different.

I stopped and commanded. “No more Circe. She is nothing like you. She is good.”

I was good.

“You wanted blood for blood! You used me,” I hissed, ensuring that my mind understood that I was done listening to hernonsense. “I have to let you go. You are my guilt, and you have lived inside me for centuries. I have to let you go.”

You can’t. I am a part of you.

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