Page 197 of Bound By Crimson
The words burned on her tongue.
She tasted salt, shame and fury.
Tessa turned and slipped silently through the door.
It clicked shut behind her.
Editha smirked. “Are you done?”
Lyric opened her mouth but couldn’t form words. Her throat felt thick. Her pulse thundered.
Editha sighed, brushing imaginary lint from her sleeve. Then she straightened, as if preparing a speech.
“Your mother was a vile girl,” she said calmly. “My own daughter. And still—she had no respect for this family, or what we were trying to preserve. She turned on us. Tried to poison Malachai against his duty.”
Lyric’s voice trembled. “Malachai’s duty?”
Editha’s eyes brightened. “Yes. Preserving the bloodline.”
She turned toward the window, speaking as if reciting scripture.
“For centuries—since before we arrived from Europe—our family has kept itself intact. Clean. Strong. We don’t marry out. We don’t bring in weakness. We don’t dilute.”
She turned back, smiling like it was something beautiful.
“I searched for you for years. I overturned cities. I clawed through records and ledgers and orphan files. When I finally found you…”
Her smile deepened.
“I gave Malachai one task. To bring you back. You belong to us. Your mother tried to hide you.”
Lyric recoiled. “You made him seduce me?”
Editha scoffed. “He didn’t have to. You welcomed him with open arms. Like a good little girl with no sense of who she is.”
Lyric’s mouth parted. “You… You planned this.”
“You planned this,” Editha repeated mockingly. “Youchosethis. Your weakness led you here.”
She stepped closer.
“You should be grateful. You were given a place in something sacred. You should have complied. And now? Now you’ve proven you can’t be trusted.”
Lyric’s stomach dropped.
“I won’t let you raise Edwin.”
Lyric’s voice fractured. “His name is Noah—”
“His name is Edwin,” Editha snapped. “He will be raised like a Thornwick. Strong. Controlled. Without your hand.”
She turned, one hand resting lightly on the doorknob.
“You had your chance. You could’ve had everything. But now you’ll have nothing.”
The door shut.
The lock clicked into place.
