Page 85 of Vows of Sacrifice

Paivrin leaned forward.

“No,” he articulated with exaggeration.

“One?” I proposed, without breaking stride.

“No.”

I let out an annoyed grunt.

“Who is it?” asked Ashana from inside.

I turned to my wife. An impediment to quiet fornication, I retorted mentally. I smiled fondly at her.

“My brother. I think he misses me. He’s a sensitive one, really,” I whispered.

In retaliation, he tapped my shin with the end of his staff. I glared at him as I rubbed the spot he’d just hit. Suddenly, he frowned, then put a hand on my chest, which my open shirt revealed.

“Your marks have migrated to your heart.”

“I know,” I grumbled.

“And Ashana didn’t notice?” he insisted.

My mouth went dry. He’d put his finger on one of my fears.

“Maybe, but if so, she didn’t tell me about it.”

With that, I stepped aside to let him in. Ashana was dressed in one of her wool dresses; however, it was not for lack of trying to convince her to spend this fifth day naked in our newlywed bed.

She was sitting in the chair writing a letter to her family. As I passed by her side, I couldn’t help but place a kiss on the top of her head. I felt more than heard Paivrin’s laughter. Again, I sent him a murderous look. I couldn’t help it! It was as if, since our carnal union, gravity had shifted and its centre was my wife.

I was unsettled, of course, but above all, I was mostly too entranced to try and resist it, even a little, out of pride! Really, if our Father makes my brothers meet their flame, I will rejoice! I thought irritably. And not just once, but twice!

“Would you like something to drink, Lord Paivrin? A cup of tea, perhaps?” she offered with a smile.

Like a cat fascinated by the graceful movements of a mouse, I grasped Ashana’s fingers and intertwined them with my own.

My brother declined politely.

“No, my dear. Unfortunately, this is not a courtesy call; well, not only that.”

My jaw tightened at the words. I knew what was going to happen next: my brother was going to reveal part of the truth, part of our story. He took a long breath and then said:

“Lady Ashana, my brothers and I believe that you are an ancient witch.”

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2 Fucking hell !

13

ASHANA

At that moment, I felt myself turn to ice. What? Me? An ancient witch?

“What is an ancient witch?” I asked at first, while my mind tried to find an answer to this question itself.

Or an argument capable of refuting this assumption about me. I’d grown up in a rational environment. Sure, magic existed, and so did creatures, but could I imagine myself being part of it? No thank you, not for me.

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