Page 157 of Her Dark Promise

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Is this really what everyone wants?” They all nodded their heads.

“And you don’t have to do anything. Just don’t go into the ballroom until we bring you in,” Emilia added.

I smiled, slowly getting excited over the idea as Callum laughed to himself. “Let’s eat before this delicious meal gets cold.”

We all dug into our food and had a strange sense of unshakable peace. I was smiling so much that my cheeks were in pain. All I had ever wanted was a family that welcomed me—saw me for who I was, flaws and all, and loved me. I thought I had found it in Circe, all those years ago. Never did I imagine I’d find it here, all this time later.

A sense of dread began to wash over me. I had what I wanted, and I was cursed to be alone. I’d watch them all die and wither like the forest around me, only they wouldn’t grow again in the spring. They’d be gone, forever.

I swallowed, and Callum cleared his throat, as if trying to pull me from my dark thoughts. “Are you happy, your grace?”

I suppressed my fear. “Very much so.”

“Good. It warms my heart seeing you so…”

“Affectionate?”

“Happy. Just happy.”

I smiled some more.

Dinner had died down and we were all chatting away happily. None of us were in a hurry to rush off when I asked, “Can I show you all something?”

No one asked where we were headed, though I could feel their curiosity. I didn’t know why I thought this was a good idea, but I had already let them in, and it felt like the next step was for them to see this part of me—my human side. The very part that I hoped I would be able to give them one day.

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and stared at the top shrouded in darkness. I stepped forward and ran my hand along the banister coated in dust.

“Thea, what are we doing here?” Bastian asked.

“You don’t have to do this, Rose. If it’s too soon or too hard, then let’s go back and enjoy a stroll around the—”

I took a deep breath, and said into the abyss, “I want to share this side of me. I think it’s time you see me, just like I see all of you. I have to face it and I would rather have my family here when I do.”

I turned to find Callum wiping at something on his cheek and Emilia patting his back, smiling at him. The brothers straightened their shoulders and looked proud of themselves, like they accomplished the impossible.

With that, I started climbing and my family followed behind. Each step felt like a brick being placed upon my chest. I was so very afraid to finally face my past, but I would do it. I would be afraid no longer.

It was a long hallway that had only a few doors down it. Annabelle’s room was the first on the right, my parents’ room was down at the end of the corridor, and my room was between both of theirs on the left. All the doors were identical, with intricate detailing painted in different golden hues.

I stopped directly in front of it. The door was moving—no, I was. I was shaking so terribly that Soren and Bast both held onto a part of my body, lending me their strength. I slowly reached for the door handle and grabbed it gently so as not to frighten it away—more like making a sudden movement that wouldfrighten me away. I remembered the memory that happened last time I was in the West Wing and didn’t want a similar one to manifest.

“Breathe, Thea.”

I had not realized I had been holding my breath. I let it out and turned the knob, pushing it open.

I stood there for what felt like eons before saying quietly, “This was my room when I was eighteen. Well, technically I am still eighteen, but…you get it.” I was rambling, running short of breath once more. I hadn’t been here in so long that everything was covered in dust and cobwebs. But it was all how I had left it.

I had a tall, four-poster bed that took up the majority of the space on one side of the wall. The balcony was straight ahead and looked over the back of the castle where I could see the panoramic view. I loved looking at the scenery so much that I had my bed placed on a side of the wall where I could lay in bed and stare straight out the balcony doors.

There were paintings of my family that I had placed intricately around my room. Some were paintings that Belle and I would do together—we were not professionals by any means—and they were the ones I most cherished.

My new family was behind me, waiting to see what I wanted to do, but I was stuck at the door frame.

Deep breath in. One. Two. Three. Deep breath out. One. Two. Three.

I opened my eyes and took a shaky step forward through the doorway. I wrapped my arms around my stomach as I slowly made my way around, not touching a single item, too afraid my touch would taint it.

I could feel doubt and regret filtering through me as I felt someone thread their arm through mine. I looked over to see Emilia giving me an encouraging smile. I nodded. I would not allow the past to control me.

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