Page 79 of Her Dark Promise

“What are they doing?” I asked Emilia.

“The hunter called it a fun game only to be played amongst the men.” I rolled my eyes at that comment.

“Why are you here?”

“I became curious.” She shrugged. “And I am absolutely surprised that Callum could look so exuberant.”

I looked back over to them and noticed she was right. Callum looked so young, so carefree. He smiled with me and at times laughed, but this was different. Were all men like this only with each other?

I shook my head of those thoughts. Callum was my consort and nothing else, even if I hated the way he was with Bastian.

The boys were talking, and I could hear Bastian explain how to hold the dagger and then let go at the precise moment. After a little more explanation, he passed the dagger to Callum, taking another swig of his drink as he narrowed his eyes on my consort’s form. He assessed Callum, roving his eyes over every inch of his body.

Callum was talking to himself as he went over everything Bastian had just said to him. He bent his knees a few different ways until he settled on one he was comfortable with. Breathedin and out a few times until his body became less tense, and more relaxed. He raised his left hand slightly to steady himself and his right hand up to the side of his face. His full concentration was on the red circle as he moved his arm, but he let go too soon. The dagger went flying way too high and right over the side of the castle.

Callum hung his head as Bastian stepped forward and clamped his hand on Callum’s shoulder. “That’s alright. I have seen others do worse.”

“Oh?”

“Well, they were children…”

Callum laughed at Bastian’s jest. He pushed Bastian’s shoulder away as he walked over to the side wall and looked down.

“Someone is going to have to go down and get it if you want to keep playing your game.”

Bastian walked over to him and whistled as he looked down.

“It doesn’t look that far.”

Callum looked over at him in disbelief.

“I would beg to differ. Come on, we will go get it together.” Callum finally noticed Emilia and I. “Your grace.”

He bowed immediately.

“Is this how you’ve decided to spend your time? Throwing tiny swords?”

Bastian looked up to the night sky as though he were contemplating my question and then looked back at me for the first time in days.

“I can’t think of a single thing I would rather be doing.”

I wanted to remind him that there was at least one thing he was craving to do, but before I could say anything, he downed the last of his drink and threw it over the side of the parapet. The goblet clanged on the stone as it tumbled down. He braced hishands on the side of the crenel and hoisted himself up until he was crouching.

“Bast! Get down!” Callum’s eyes were wide, obviously nervous.

I wasn’t convinced. He wouldn’t do anything to truly injure himself. He wouldn’t leave his brother.

Bastian stood and was about to climb on top of the merlon, but he slipped. His hands shot out quickly, and he barely caught himself before falling over the edge. He chuckled and looked down again, then over his shoulder to us. “That would have been bad.”

I rushed forward. He was going to be the death of me.

“Get down now!”

He rolled his eyes. “Uh oh, the witch is angry.”

He tried again. This time, he succeeded in hoisting himself up and standing. “I can see for miles up here. Join me, Cal!” He screamed, throwing his arms out wide.

“Bast, come on. I’ll go get the dagger, and we can continue the game.” Callum had come up beside me and was trying to coax him down.

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