Page 41 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“I know, but I still worry.” My legs fidgeted under the table.Even protection spells could not calm my nerves. I tried to focus on the game.

“You know, you will have to see him at the Alder King’s Revelry.” Caiden played his hand.

I lit a cigarette. “I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight.”

Caiden set down his cards. “Amolie, do you have a sleeping potion?”

Amolie tossed a vial filled with purple liquid to Caiden. “It’s valerian root. You only need a little.”

Caiden handed me the vial. I tipped it so one drop hung on the cork top before leaning my head back and dropping it onto my tongue. An oaky taste filled my mouth. Instantly, my eyes felt heavy.

Caiden and Roderick helped me up the stairs to my bedroom and into bed.

Gideon haunted my dreams. In one, he climbed through my window and dragged me out by my hair. In another, I awoke to find him suffocating me. Squirming underneath his firm grip, my heart raced. The sedative kept me locked in my nightmares.Screams scraped at my throat.

A voice called from beyond the veil. “Aelia, wake up, Aelia. It’s just a dream.”

I opened my eyes to find a shirtless Caiden shaking me awake. Sweat drenched every inch of my body.

“It’s a dream, Aelia.” Caiden pulled me in close.

Burying my face in his chest, I sobbed. “I can never escape him.”

“I’m here now. He can’t hurt you here.”

My body trembled, and a hot cry bubbled in my throat. “You can’t protect my mind.”

Caiden held me tighter.“I’m staying with you the rest of the night.”

I didn’t have the energy to fight with him.“Fine.”My body relaxed.

He gave me a warm smile. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes.”

Without thinking, I let him peel the clothes from my slick body.

When he returned with the pajamas, he gasped. “Your back.”

I shut my eyes tight, blocking out the memory.

Caiden swallowed hard at the sight of my mangled flesh.

“Whips infused with iron and nightshade.” The words caught in my throat. I tore the silk pajamas from Caiden’s hands, covering my shame.

“Do they still hurt?”A crease formed between his blue eyes.

I pulled the satin shirt over my head as I pushed back tears, fighting a scream that lingered under the surface of my skin. “Only in my mind.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, lowering his eyes.

“You didn’t cause them. They are a part of me now.”I fiddled with the gold stud in my left ear. The simple piece of jewelry hid my deepest cut.

His eyes asked the questions his lips did not dare.

“The twins did this to me. Gideon didn’t get his hands dirty with such things.”

Caiden fell to his knees before me, grabbing my waist. “I failed you. I should have protected you.”

I ran my hands through his thick hair. “There was nothing you could do. My fate was sealed before I ever set foot in the Highlands.”

---