Page 38 of Kiss the Dawn
My gut twisted. “There has to be something we can do.” I realized it was a dumb thing to say as soon as the words were out because Clara’s spine stiffened, and she glared at me.
“Were you not listening earlier?” she said.
“I’m sorry. This is all just so…archaic.”
“I suppose it would seem that way to an outsider. But as much as I hate what’s happening, I can’t deny that our laws have kept us safe for too long. We survive because of them. The Isle is safe because of them.”
“Maybe. But this sentence is too harsh. Your mother isn’t a threat to the Isle. She made a choice for her offspring’s welfare, something every mother should have the right to do.”
“If they let us see her to say goodbye, I promise no tears,” Jules said. “And no false hopes. We won’t make it any harder for her.”
Clara looked at her in surprise, and then her expression softened. “Maybe you aren’t such a baby after all.” She sighed and gathered her coat. “Come on. Let’s retire to our chambers and allow Orina a little time to decompress.”
But in that moment, I realized that I didn’t want tobe alone in this strange place. “I don’t mind if you stay.”
Clara locked gazes with me, and an understanding passed between us. She nodded. “Very well.” She set her coat down and joined Jules and me on the sofas. “Tell us about the mainland.”
“Fine, as long as you tell me more about the Isle.”
“Deal.”
Both my sisters were married,Clara with three children and Jules with one. In fact, all my sisters were married with families of their own. I learned about the estate where they’d grown up and the dominion where they all lived—a sector or territory ruled over by the Bloodmeres.
My family was royalty on this Isle, but so were the covens. The intricate politics of this place made my head hurt. I told them about the Order, my status as a watcher, and a little about the Ministry where I’d lived for most of my younger years.
“The dome sounds amazing,” Jules said.
There was a knock on the door, and we all sat up straighter. “Come in.”
I expected to see Frederick, but instead a guard pushed open the door to admit a beautiful golden-haired angel.
Clara tensed, but Jules leapt up and ran toward the woman. “Eliza, you made it!”
They embraced briefly before Eliza turned her attention to me. “You must be Miss Lighthart.”
Eliza? The same Eliza that I was blocking from having offspring? The panicked look on Clara’s face confirmed it.
I stood to greet her. “Please call me Orina.”
She inclined her head, her gaze wary. “Is there any news on the contract?”
Straight to business. I liked it. “Nothing yet. But if there’s something to find, Lorenzo will find it.”
The guard retreated, and she walked over to the window to stare at the mist.
Jules and Clara shared a look I couldn’t decipher.
“Eliza?” Jules said finally. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes,” Eliza said. “I do.” She turned to face me, cheeks wet with silent tears. “I want you to share them with me.”
“What?”
“My mates. When the Circle annuls our mating and gives them to you. I want you to allow me to share them with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your mageri won’t find any loophole,” she said. “There is no weakness in the contract. We’ve looked. Trust me. We’ve looked. The Circle allowed the mageri to come view it to satisfy the consortium and to bringyou to us. Once they find no weakness, you’ll be asked to pledge yourself to the mating. I’ll be unbonded, and my mates will be given to you.”
