Page 67 of Between Despair and Hope

“Yes, it’s quite surprising. But she is. She was able to defeat my father. He’s dead. Declan is king.”

“Mama killed King Dryul?” she whispered, amazement on her face, and I felt my lips twitch.

“She did, yes.”

Emmeline hadn’t even looked at him when he rushed behind her. I wasn’t sure she’d even done it consciously; the shadows seemed to have a mind of their own. I had only looked up for a moment, after Elora’s eyes went empty. Bloody hell. I didn’t want to tell her. I decided to try to skip that part of the story.

“While all of that was happening, King Rainier was overpowered and taken by my brother and has been held in Darkhold ever since.”

“How long has it been?” Elora looked down at her hands as she asked.

“Six weeks.”

She jumped up, scrambling toward the foot of the bed, and promptly fell to the floor with a cry.

“Elora! Are you alright?” I ran around the bed to her, finding her collapsed on the ground, her hands in her lap and her head hanging low. When she looked up, I saw blood running from her nose. “Shit!”

I scooped her up and took her into the bathing suite where I sat her on the counter as I looked for a cloth to clean her up.

“I hit my nose on the bed frame. It’s alright. I’m fine. My legs just…I’m so weak. Cyran, have I been asleep this whole time?”

I grabbed a cloth from within the closet before I came back to stand in front of her. The counter was high, about waist height, so she was taller than me as she sat there on the edge of it. I put both of my hands on her knees, hoping to reassure her.

“Yes, but you’re alright. Everyone is alright. Safe.”

She narrowed her eyes at me as she took the cloth out of my hands, more forcefully than necessary. “What happened to me? What did you do?” She must have started to remember. I needed to explain the why before I told her thewhat.

“There was a prophecy. I had to awaken the Beloved.” She nodded slowly before tilting her head back, the cloth pressed against her nose. “I was shown something I had to do, and in hindsight, every part of me wishes I hadn’t done it. I hurt you, and I’m sorry.” Those blue eyes watched me over the white cloth as it turned red. “What I did to you caused Ciarden to bless Emmeline and allowed her to kill King Dryul.”

She turned on the faucet next to her, spinning a bit on the counter to wet the cloth, not looking at me. “What did you do to me? Why have I been asleep?”

I took a deep breath as I prepared myself for what was to come.

“I killed you.” She froze, looking at the cloth in her hand. I squeezed her knees, afraid of losing her. “But your mother brought you back. I’m so sorry, Elora.”

She dropped the cloth and turned away from me, spinning on the counter to face the mirror. I held my breath as she pulled her hair behind her shoulders. She traced her fingertip over the long white scar stretching across her throat, and I watched her swallow. Emmeline had tried to heal it, but the scar wouldn’t leave her. Just like the scar on my heart to match what I’d done to her. I’d live the rest of my life regretting it, wishing I’d have just let the world burn.

She didn’t turn from the mirror as she spoke, her voice almost quiet enough I didn’t hear her.

“Get out.”

I pulled my hands away and took a step back.

“Your mother brought you back, and I woke you up. I’m sorry, Elora. Please. I thought I had to.”

“I said get out.” She fisted her hands in her lap as she spun on the counter. Her hands began to shake as her lips flattened into a thin line. I deserved her rage. I deserved so much worse. I was stupid to think she might have remembered what happened and forgiven me.

“Let me help you to the bed at least, your legs—”

She threw a bar of soap from the counter at my face, and it bounced off my forehead painfully.

“I said get out!” Her chin jutted out, and I saw the tears in her eyes. I couldn’t just leave her on the counter though. She just woke up, and she was weak; she could fall. I didn’t know what to do.

“Come on,min viltasma, please let—”

“Donotcall me that.” Her eyes flashed white, and I knew what was about to happen. Still, I couldn’t just leave her.

“Stay right here. I’m going to go get someone.” I was halfway out the door, hating to leave her, when I heard her collapse to the floor behind me. I stopped, turning as I ran back to her. Stubborn. That’s what she was. “I told you to stay put!” I reached for her before I was slammed backwards, white light hitting me square in the chest.

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