Page 159 of Her Dark Promise

They laughed as they pulled away, and Mother said, “I wasn’t even after your father that night.”

We all looked at her with surprise and asked an array of questions, to which she replied, “I wasn’t of high status, and I wouldn’t have been a good match for your father. I came from a bloodline that married courtiers and dukes—not a king. I was dancing with Sir Claes when I looked over to your father and our eyes met. I was smitten. Though I made no move to approach him, he had other plans, and now I have the two most wonderful little girls a mother could hope for.”

They kissed each of our temples. “Now off to bed.”

“Goodnight, darlings, and have the sweetest of dreams.”

My family faded away until nothing was left to indicate they were ever here. I stared at my bed and willed the memory to come back, but it didn’t. I wanted to see them again. The last fewyears of their lives were spent with me hating them for what they did. I hated them for so long I had forgotten this memory.

“Your parents seemed like wonderful people. I know why you miss them dearly,” Callum whispered into the silence.

My chest was still heaving at the guilt I felt for what they went through because of me. My father was so loving, so understanding, until he wasn’t. I swore to Circe he’d accept me, but in that final moment, I knew otherwise. His hatred for magic would always overpower his love for me.

No matter what they did, they were still my family.

My legs wouldn’t keep me up any longer, and I crumbled to the ground and cried. I didn’t look up to see their reaction to me falling apart, but I could feel them sitting next to me. They didn’t make a move to touch me as I sat there and cried, but they were just present, lending me their strength when I was quickly losing my own.

Chapter thirty

Iwoke up feeling refreshed.

I hadn’t felt like being with any of them after I had cried in my old chambers for hours, purging all of the water from my body. I bathed alone for what seemed like forever, and while I felt like a part of me was missing, I knew I needed to take the night for myself.

I sat in my bathtub, arms wrapped around my shins, head resting on my knees as I gazed down at the rose garden slowly swaying in the wind. I felt free and shaken all at once, still considering this new family of mine and what it would feel like to lose them. The thought was almost debilitating. I’d escaped Circe’s voice in my head, but the feelings of doubt she left behind lingered.

I had decided to take a long walk to get a bit of fresh air before anyone woke up, needing the chill bite of the air on my exposed flesh. I put on a beautiful gown that I had taken from my old wardrobe. It was a dark, royal blue with yellow beading and white lace accents. The sleeves were long—perfect for thisweather—but it was still cold enough that I had the sense to grab my favorite muff and a fur-lined cape.

I lifted my head to the sky and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of the flowers rustling together. I leaned forward to sniff one of the roses and inhaled it deeply.

“Don’t tell the others, but you’re my favorite,” I whispered to it.

I continued walking through the rows when I had to shield my eyes from a bright light. What the—

I squinted, trying to see what was blinding me, when my eyes widened, and I gasped.

A sliver of light pierced through the fog. A SLIVER OF LIGHT PIERCED THROUGH THE FOG!

“Soren!” I yelled. “Soren!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I was walking in circles, my head searching the sky for more light, but there was none.

I rushed back over to the original sliver of light, stood directly under it, opened my eyes, and stared directly into it. After a few moments, my eyes began to burn, but it felt so fuckinggood.

“What happened!”

I could hear multiple people screaming at me, but I couldn’t be bothered as I closed my eyes, reveling in the warmth of the light with arms outstretched. Warm. It waswarm! How could I have forgotten about that? Even in Soren and Bastian’s memories, I couldn’t feel the sun’s warmth.

I had only known cold for so long that I wanted to bathe in the tiny piece of light forever. I could feel the damp cold seeping into my clothing on my knees and looked down to find that I had fallen to my knees. I didn’t even remember that happening. I knew there were people around, but I couldn't care less as long as the light didn’t go away.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, but I didn’t dare look away from the light. Whoever it was reached out and brushed a tear that had fallen down my cheek.

I was still too stunned to speak, but I didn’t have to as Soren put a hand over his mouth. “Rose?” When I didn’t respond or look at him, he bent in front of me and placed a hand on my leg. “Rose, has the sun ever shone through the fog?”

I shook my head.

“What could this mean?” Bastian asked from behind me.

Soren looked behind my shoulder and answered, “I don’t know how it happened, but something has caused the curse to wane, or else this,” he waved into the ray of light, “wouldn’t be happening.”

Those words brought me out of my stupor and I asked, “I haven’t performed any spells recently. We haven’t found anything of use over our weeks of research. I haven’t done anything different.”

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