Page 175 of Her Dark Promise

Her hands were still on my face. She tried to talk, but I simply gave her a wide smile. What must I look like to terrify Emilia? I used the rest of my energy to force Circe to the side of my mind. I could feel her confusion and panic as I grabbed the blade from Emilia’s side and lined it up to my heart.

“She was wrong,” I said to her, voice shaky and low. “I never meant to replace Annabelle. I never meant to keep you. You are not a doll. I loved you the moment I saw you.Ihave been afraid to let you go.”

“I know,” she said weakly. “I know.”

“I am so sorry, Emilia. I should have been paying more attention. I should have seen what was coming.”

Emilia’s voice was a whimper when she said, “I should have told you she was in my head…but I was scared. I didn’t know what was happening to me.”

“I’m going to fix this.”

I clenched my teeth together. Circe knew what I was about to do; she was erratic, trying her best to claw back up to take control of my body. Once she did, there would be no going back. It was now or never.

I looked back into Emilia’s eyes and said in a strained voice, “Please take care of yourselves.”

I didn’t hesitate as I plunged the dagger straight into the middle of my chest. I felt a pulsing energy burst out of me. I could feel blood flowing out of my mouth, my hands turning slick, and I fell backward onto the ground.

Circe’s screams of rage grew softer until they were no more. A calm washed over me—enveloping me in a warm blanket.

As I started to close my eyes, I suddenly became overwhelmingly sleepy. I saw the brothers and Emilia bent over me, tears cascading down their horror-stricken faces, begging and pleading with me to not leave them. I wanted to reply to them, but words wouldn’t form. It was probably better that way. I might ruin their last moment of me.

My last thought…Goodbye.

I opened my eyes and squinted at how bright the sun was shining down on me. I sat up and looked down to find Callum lying on his back, hands above his head, beside me.

“Callum?” My voice wavered.

He turned his head and smiled brightly at me. There was not a hint of blood on him; he wasn’t in pain, no visible injuries. He seemed to be blissful and happy.

“Your grace…”

“Yes, Callum?”

“If you weren’t a human, what would you be?”

I stared down at him, blinked a few times, unsure if I heard him right, and then looked around again. We were in a memory. This happened sometime last year. Is this what death was like? Living within a memory of your choosing?

I slid next to him, wrapped my arms around his middle, and rested my head on his chest. He didn’t hesitate or say anything as he leaned his head on mine, and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

I still didn’t have the words to answer him, and he continued on, “If I wasn’t a human, I would want to be a crow.”

A sob almost broke out of me. I wish I would have treated him better, cherished him when I had the chance. I rememberedthinking he was a silly little human. Why on earth would he want to be a crow of all animals?

I found my voice and asked, “A crow?”

His chest rumbled. “Yes. They are intelligent, like me. Can build basic tools, like me. And they have an excellent memory, also like me.”

I lifted my head to see his face when he said the next part. “I would be able to spread my wings and fly wherever I wanted. Feel the air beneath my wings. Freedom.”

I remembered feeling vexed by his admission, thinking that he wanted to leave me, chastising myself for a moment over keeping him. Even once believing that humans would always disappoint in the end.

I swallowed. He traced my face lightly with his finger, his eyes searching mine. For what, I wasn’t sure, but it didn’t matter. I was content.

“And every night, I would come back here to gaze upon your beauty. To never know what it meant to hold you, but be so very blessed to just be near you.”

I lifted my head. There was so much that I wanted to tell him, so much to apologize for. I felt something wet on my face and knew that I was crying again. I pulled away from him and sat up, looking away. Not wanting him to see me cry.

I wiped the tears from my face, and collected myself.

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