Page 48 of Her Dark Promise

What do you think? They seem to be causing quite a bit of chaos to the very humans you vowed to protect. Are you going to give into your true nature and kill them in their sleep?

“Enough,” I said, loud enough for everyone to look at me. I remembered where I was and breathed out a sigh of aggravation, changing the subject. “Callum stays in the East Wing, as will the both of you. There are ample rooms so pick whichever ones you want. I couldn’t care less. Every day you will be at this table before I arrive at half past eight. I don’t recommend being late.”

I needed to hurry and check on Emilia.

“Why did she attack us?” Bastian asked. “She doesn’t even know us.”

“Is she alright?” Soren asked at the same time.

I didn’t have time for this. “Clean up this mess and meet me outside of the greenhouse at half past seven,” and stormed out after Callum.

I ran through the halls back to the South Wing and up the stairs. He was opening her door with her still thrashing, begging him to let her go as they entered her room.

I followed closely, watching him set her down, and she crashed onto the ground crying. I rushed to her side.

“Emilia, what happened?” Her sobs wracked her entire body. I calmed my voice, sending her into a trance-like state that always seemed to work whenever her emotions got the better of her. “Emilia, tell me what happened.”

She looked up at me and signed,I don’t want them here. Please. Please. Please.Her hand was balled in a fist, and she kept circling it around the middle of her chest, begging me to listen.

“Her episodes have been few and far between, but ever since Bastian stepped foot into this castle her mental health has dramatically declined.”

I shot my hand out and wrapped it around his mouth.

“Wait for me outside.” He left without another word.

I took a deep breath in. One. Two. Three. Deep breath out. One. Two. Three. Then, I turned my attention back to Emilia who had dropped her head to the ground.

I escorted her over to her bed and sat at the edge with her. “I will explain everything when you wake up.” I blew a powder into her face and caught her as she fell backward.

I needed her to sleep, and wake up renewed and calm before we discussed the brothers. I knew why she didn’t want them here, understood it deeply, but I also knew I had to keep them or kill them. I massaged my temples and closed my eyes, her earlier idea lingering in my mind. Maybe staying in Mariam’s cottage wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

I opened her door to find Callum pacing, his hands constantly rubbing his arms up and down, his nervous tick.

He turned to me when he saw me shut the door and knelt before me. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, your grace.”

I didn’t know what to think. Nothing I decided would make anyone happy. My hands were tied. “Stay with her.”

My mind was clouded when I walked out of the greenhouse to find Bastian waiting there with his rifle, his hair ruffled as if he had been running his hands through it all morning.

I was left to my thoughts after leaving Emilia alone, but there was nothing left to do until she woke up, and that wouldn’t be until tomorrow.

He stood when he saw me and barely nodded his head as a greeting, until he saw my

appearance and cocked his head to the side, clearly confused. The simple long black gown that was immaculate this morning was now covered in a light layer of dirt. I walked over to him, my baby hair wildly framed around my face, dirt under my nails, and on various parts of my body.

I teased, “What? Do I have something on my face?”

He coughed, trying his best not to look at me. “No, I just didn’t expect you to look…”

“Radiant?”

“Dirty.”

He was rather direct, but his statement was true nonetheless.

“You know exactly what to say to make a girl melt. How lucky am I?” I moved past him with a shove. “Let’s go; we haven’t got all day.”

We walked in tense silence with him slightly behind me, I wasn’t worried that he would attack me, not yet anyway. Even though I couldn’t leave my lands, they were vast enough that I could walk for miles in every direction. Our current path washeading northeast to where there was a small meadow that I knew the deer enjoyed grazing this time of day.

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