Page 3 of When Storms Ruin

“I am fine. The child is fine.” Annelise’s voice shook as she spoke.

“I heard the birth was…difficult.” Osiris moved forwards, towards the bed.

“Quite,” Annelise confirmed with a nod of her head, swallowing hard. She bit back the surge of bile that climbed the back of her throat.

“Let me see.” Osiris sat at the edge of the bed.

“A daughter,” Annelise spoke as she turned Diana ever so slightly towards Osiris.

He reached out, caressing the child’s cheek with the back of his calloused hand.

“She is beautiful, like her mother.” He almost smiled.Almost. “You lied to me.”

“What do you speak of, Osiris?” Annelise feigned innocence, and a deathly calm settled over The Dark King.

“Stormshade,” the king spat the word as if it were a curse, his gaze turning cold.

“Osiris?” Annelise’s voice sounded small in her own ears.

The midwives fled the room, fearing what might come next. They didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire, or worse, punished themselves.

Annelise and Osiris were alone with the child.

“Only a Stormshade witch could bear another Stormshade,” he hissed, standing from the bed.

“Osiris, she has your glacial blue eyes,” Annelise pleaded.

“Andyourmagic,” he seethed. “How could you do this to me? How could you betray me this way?”

“I love you, Osiris. This isourchild. I bear no ill intent.”

“That is no child of mine.” Osiris stormed towards the door and paused with his hand on the knob, gripping it so tightly it began to crackunder his palm.

“What will you do?” Annelise asked, gripping Diana tight and holding her against her chest. A hot tear spilled down her cheek, catching in the soft muslin of the baby’s cloth.

“You will leave The Stone City,” Osiris replied, swallowing hard. His eyes were on the floorboards before him.

“Leave?” Annelise whispered, not understanding.

“I will not sentence you to death, Anna. I am not the monster you think me to be,” he replied coldly.

“I don’t think you a monster at all, Osiris. This changesnothing. We can still be together,” Annelise replied desperately, her voice ragged and raw.

“No. You will leave The Stone City, and you will never come back. I will not kill you, but I will not help you either. Take whatever you can carry and leave. Tonight.”

“All of this overmy magic?” Annelise asked, rising to her feet with Diana in her arms. Her legs felt weak beneath her. She wasn’t sure how far they could carry her tonight. “You cast me out because I havethe wrong type of magic? And what of your daughter? Why this blind hatred? You are better than this, Osiris.”

“The king has spoken. If you do not leave tonight, I cannot protect you.” His eyes met Annelise’s for a fleeting moment before they returned to the floor. He pressed them closed, struggling against the inner turmoil he waged war against.

Was that what he was trying to do? Protect her? Did he think the people of Istmere would rise against her if they found out what she truly was?

“We can fix this. Together. As a family.” Annelise’s words fell on deaf ears. Osiris opened his eyes and turned the knob, wrenching the door open.

“Tonight,” he insisted.

Annelise felt helpless. How could she take her newborn daughter and flee? Where would she go? How could she muster the strength? Hot tears trailed down her cheeks as she coughed back a sob that threatened to choke her.

Annelise had fallen in love with Osiris, despiteeverything. Despite his reputation. Despite his appetite for violence. Despite what she knew would happen if he ever found out her true identity. He was soft and tender. He was kind…but he was stubborn. And he was short-sighted.

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