Page 72 of Glass and Bone
“Please, this is yourchild.” The woman whimpers. I can hear Tobias scoff.
“I don’t care, you need to leave. Ipaidyou to leave Noterra.” His voice is laced with venom, and I can almost picture his hardened jaw.
“I love you, Tobias. Let us be a family, appoint me as your mistress.” She’s pleading, begging. I glance over the edge of the wall and see her hands on his chest. His arms are dangling by his sides, his hands clenched into fists. “Please don’t cast me away.” She reaches up towards him, her hand cupping his cheek. His eyes close and he leans into her touch. I can feel the nausea blooming in my stomach as she touches his face. Her swollen belly lightly brushing his hips. She looks to be about three or four months pregnant. Which would put the conception well before my arrival.
Scarlett’s elbow is digging into my back as she leans over me to look inside the stables with me. I shift slightly and Tobias’s eyes flash open. I jerk back before his head turns. My eyes widen and I push Scarlett until we are quietly running around the side of the building. Calloused fingers grip my arm and jerk me out of Scarlett’s grasp.
“Ela, what are you doing out here without Laris or Tano?” His voice is tight, as if he is struggling to get the words out. I spin around and his eyes are wide, scared.
“I was giving Scarlett a tour when I saw you go in there with thatwoman.” I spit, ripping my arm out of his hand. I can see Scarlett biting her lip and looking down. “I thought she was leaving, Tobias?” I whisper, willing my pulse to relax and go back to normal.
“She did, but she came back. I’ll make sure she stays away this time, Ela.” He reaches for my face, and I flinch. His jaw hardens as he steps back.
“Get her out of here, Tobias.” I snap and he closes his eyes.
“Lady Scarlett, would you please rejoin the festivities? The queen and I will join you shortly.” He looks over my shoulder at her. She glances in my direction, and I give her a short nod, letting her know it’s okay.
“Yes, Your Grace.” She bows slightly before disappearing around the building. Tobias’s hand grabs my upper arm, dragging me towards the tree line.
“Tobias, let go of me.” He pulls me farther and farther from the wall, the sounds of the party disappearing as we cross into the woods. The sunlight is streaming through the upper canopy, casting golden threads of light onto the floor. “Tobias.” I say again as we go deeper. He stops once we reach a small clearing, looking around before releasing my arm. The rich smell of foliage and dirt fills my nose and I almost dramatically inhale. It smells like home, but without the muskiness associated with the humidity.
“Elaenor, I don’t want her here either, please trust me.”
“You let her touch you. I saw your face; you were enjoying it.” His lips pinch into a thin line as he crosses his arms.
“I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t enjoy my time with her, but it doesn’t matter. I am married to you.”
“You don’t want to take her as your mistress?”
“I thought about it–”
“Youthoughtabout it?” I yell, stepping back. “Are you serious?”
“If that is my child, Ela, part of me wants to know it.”
“I can’t believe this. What about what you said before? What if it’s not your child?”
“There is no way to know until it’s born.”
“Is she going to stay until then?” My voice raises in octave, and I press a hand to my chest.
“I don’t know!”
“Tobias, I am not blaming the child. That poor babe is not at fault for any of this, but I will not live in a castle that you have a mistress in.” My threat falls short. He knows I don’t have a choice.
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying you have to choose.”
“Excuse me?” He scoffs.
“Choose who you are keeping here, because it won’t be both of us.” His eyes darken as he steps closer to me, the ocean iris turning into a stormy gray.
“Do you think you have choices here? That you have any ounce of freedom in this country? You cannot leave. I will not allow it. You are my wife.” His hands are on his hips as he towers over me, but I’m not scared. Not anymore.
“Then act like it! Get rid of her, please, Tobias. I can’t. I can’t see her here, walking the halls, knowing you used to be with her. Knowing that your heir is growing inside her womb and not mine.” His eyes soften as he reaches for me, but I step back again.
“Ela, I don’t want to hurt you. I am trying so hard to be the person you want me to be. I want to make you happy, but I don’t know how. You are always trying to leave.”
