Page 235 of Eldritch
“And you have.” She sighed and strode toward me, lifted both of my hands in hers. “You are the most selfless person I know, Maevyth Bronwick. And perhaps the most misunderstood. All our lives, you’ve lived as an outcast. Despised for reasons that you could not have possibly controlled. For heaven’s sake, you were just achildwhen the world decided to cast you off.”
Realizing where she was going, I shook my head. “Aleysia, please. Now isn’t?—”
“You will listen to me. Every word. If you go after him to that tree, I might not get to tell you again.” Her voice cracked on the last word and the tight squeeze of my hand emphasizedher point. “I want to wrap you in my arms and tell you not to leave, but you have to go. And you are strong and powerful. You exploded demons from the underground, so I know you can take care of yourself.” The two of us laughed, as morbid as her comment may have been. “At the same time, you are kindhearted and vulnerable.” She exhaled a sharp breath and cleared her throat, as if to stave off tears. “You have suffered the most despicable prejudice, and you faced it with such grace. You never once let the hatred of this world change who you were. You never judged me for the hardships I placed on you. You were prepared to watch me give birth to an illegitimate child and hold my hand through it all. Loyally and without question.” The waver of tears in her eyes had me looking away to hide my own. “And you never asked for anything but love in return.”
“You are my sister. It is my duty?—”
“No.” Hooking my chin with her finger, she guided my face to hers. “No, it was never your duty, Maeve. But it is your turn, my sweet sister. You love him and it’s abundantly clear that he loves you.” She gave a tearful smile and glanced around the small cottage. “I’m ready to make this my home. I have Father and Corwin. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t even like Corwin.” I chuckled through tears.
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “He’s grown on me. And this is as good a home as any in this new world.”
“You don’t speak their language, though. You can’t understand a word they’re saying.”
Aleysia shrugged. “I’ve managed—I’ll learn. Father learned, and I can, too.” With my hand clutched in hers, she kissed my knuckles. “I’m going to miss you so much. But we found each other once. We will find each other again.”
“I came all this way…All I wanted was to find you. I can’t just abandon you. I won’t.”
“You’ve never abandoned me. Not once. You came back for me. You did as you’d hoped. You kept me safe. We’re simply parting ways. For now.”
“And if something happens?”
“Maevyth…you cannot serve as my shield your entire life. That leaves nothing for you. You have to let me go.”
“I can’t.”
“You will. And if the fates are kind, our paths will cross again.”
I threw my arms around her, holding her tight to me, the feeling that I might not embrace her that way again tearing through my chest. “I love you.”
“Only a fraction of how much I love you.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
ZEVANDER
Past …
Black poison slid down the blade Zevander twisted in his grasp, one he’d been entrusted with to take the lives of Loyce’s enemies. One he intended to use on himself as he sat in the bath across from two women, both part of General Loyce’s Gildona. The intrigue in their eyes wasn’t for him, but what hid beneath the surface of the water.
His tenth piercing had been placed days ago, making him the only slave alive with so many. Like everyone else, they watched for a glimpse of it. To confirm whether the rumors they’d heard were true or not. They whispered to each other, giggling like children.
Zevander ignored them, turning his focus to that blade, ensuring there was enough poison to coat the entire surface. The last time, he’d only lost consciousness a few short hours. This time, he’d make sure it destroyed him entirely.
And when his empty husk of a body lay lifeless, his soul far away from this place, they could gawp all they wanted.
The blade trembled in his grasp as he held it to his chest where within that vicious organ still relentlessly pounded a rhythm of life. One nick of the flesh. Seconds. The thick layer of poison was enough to stop his heart in seconds.
He hadn’t wanted to do it for an audience, but Zevander no longer found time alone, nor peace, not since she’d turned him into a walking anomaly.
Let them watch if they’re so curious.
One of the women submerged herself under the water. There he sat, a heartbeat from death, while they sought a glimpse of his cock. He’d have laughed if the monster inside of him weren’t whispering in his ear right then.
Do it.
For years, he’d fought the voice, the hope of seeing his siblings urging him to keep going. To keep breathing when his body was so battered and ruined, it ached to draw breath. But that night, Loyce had professed her love for him while she took from him again, as she’d done for so many years, he lost his will. He was weary. No more than a hollow.
