Page 147 of Her Dark Promise

“Not anymore.”

I took a moment, shut my eyes, and willed myself with everything I had, placing mental barriers around my mind—fortifying it and then reinforcing the walls.

Callie!

Then it was over.

My mind was cleared from the fog that had plagued me since the day I was cursed. The silence wasn’t unbearable. It was comforting, normal—human, even.

I laughed and then cried and then broke down, clutching my stomach. Was that all it took? All these years and all I needed to do was let her go?

I wiped the tears away and nearly skipped to the door.

Clear! My mind was clear, and my body was as light as air. One gust of wind and I would be swept away.

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry. I wanted to punch someone. I wanted to fuck. I wanted… I wanted to walk out those doors and through those gates.

I wanted toleave.

But…did I?

Did I truly want to lift the curse? I knew they wouldn’t break it, that it was a wasted effort, but now I was considering it. Where would I go? Who would I be? Who was I without my guilt, without Circe plaguing my thoughts…without my memories haunting me.

I rubbed my temple with my fingers, adding enough pressure to relieve some of the pain. Deep breath in. One. Two. Three. Deep breath out. One. Two. Three.

I moved to my balcony.

When I thought back to being a child and what my dreams were, I came up empty. I knew that I wanted to travel the world. I knew that would never be a reality since I was the eldest and thus, the next in line for the throne. My fate was sealed.

I slammed the doors open, the wind whipping around my face, and stepped forward until I could lean over the railing. There was always a third option floating in the back of my mind, but I wouldn’t consider it. At least not for now.

They had all given me a taste of what it felt like to be loved if only I gave myself over to it. I wrapped my arms around myself, unable to stop a chill from running up my spine.

Chapter twenty-eight

“What are you thinking about, witch?”

I blushed at the nickname as Bastian’s arms grabbed my hips and gently pushed inside of me, Callum’s lips sucking on my nipples.

We had all just finished fucking on the couch in my chambers next to the fireplace when I was thrown from my thoughts by Bastian’s cock, a happy surprise.

I ran my hands through Callum’s hair, holding him tightly to me.

“Do either of you ever tire?”

“With you? Never.” I could barely make out the words as Callum murmured them around my breast. The vibrations sent sparks across my body.

Bastian reached around to rub small circles on my clit and had my legs shaking once again in a matter of minutes.

We were all panting hard when I pried myself out of their reach and said over my shoulder as I put my dress back on, “Go clean up before dinner.”

I could hear them snickering behind me as I walked into my bathing chamber.

It didn’t take long to clean up before I walked into the dining hall. I had not eaten here in so long. I made it to my chair as Bastian walked in with a large platter of food in his hands.

“You’re here early. Very unlike you.”

“I aim to please, hunter.”

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