Page 55 of Her Dark Promise

I gave him a nod of approval.

“Is that part of your powers?”

“Is that your question?” He scolded himself, realizing his mistake, and shook his head. “Seeing into one’s mind is one of my powers, yes.”

“Wait! That isn’t what I wish to know!”

“Calm down, little scholar. Let’s just count that as an explanation of what I plan to do to you and not a question.”

He let out a breath and smiled.

What is wrong with him?

If he was freaking Circe out then there might actually be something wrong with him.

“Why are you so happy?” I couldn’t help but ask him, I was growing weary of it.

He blinked back his surprise. “I am just happy to have something that you covet.”

It didn’t explain everything, but it seemed as though that was all I was going to get out of him for the time being.

So instead I asked, “What is your question?”

“I need to ask you now?”

“I suppose not.” I lifted off of him completely. “We will meet back here at this time tomorrow. Have your question prepared.”

I walked out of the room without any more interruptions, leaving him to finish. I knew I should go and see Emilia. She had to be up by now, but I wasn’t ready to face her. Not yet.

This is who you are.

“Will there ever be a day when you leave me alone?” I asked curtly, back leaned against the wall, wrestling with what to do about Emilia.

I wouldn’t count on it.

Just a little bit longer, then I would go and see Emilia, I promised myself. I kicked off the wall and headed to the kitchen.

I took the stairs down to a lower level of the castle where it was considerably colder, following a delicious smell I couldn’t place. The walls were made of stone. There were a few tables in front of the sink and counter space for the larger animals to be butchered. Only a few windows lined the tops of walls, allowing in much needed light and fresh air.

I found Bastian gliding around with his back to me. This was the most carefree I had seen him.

The light cascaded down from a small window toward the ceiling and hit his front, highlighting the bulging muscles underhis shirt, sleeves rolled up his forearms. Bastian was the shorter brother of the two, but he was stockier than Soren.

I licked my lips, hungry for more than just food, but I told myself that I would make him beg me before I ever fucked him or let him touch me again. He would lose at this little game, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t play with him. And yet, I also cursed myself for wanting him in any way. For even thinking about complicating things further.

You’ve never been good at self-restraint,Circe tsked.

I opened my mouth to respond but resisted.

I was about to walk over to him when I heard him humming to himself, a familiar tune.

“A cook and a singer? A man of many talents.”

He jumped high and turned toward me, his arms clutching a bowl of something tightly to his chest.

He answered, out of breath, “It was my mother’s favorite song.”

“How sweet.”

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