Page 79 of These Eternal Bones
Another savage sound leaves the man as he jerks away from me, my bleary eyes locking on his tendrils as they brace on the bars, as if to pull them apart. They don’t budge, and I can’t breathe past the hurt and anger pounding in my chest as I get to my feet. “Yes, I did!” He runs his claws through his hair, scraping his flesh as he paces. “I cannot lose you again!”
“But you have Elric! You have lost me! I may be living, but to you, I am as good as dead!”
His dominion floods me, making me wobble on my feet as he whirls to face me. “No.”
“Get out! You have no right!”
He blurs, taunting me, pressing harder, making my heart slow, calming it without my permission. “You aremine.”
My hand connects with his face before I think better of it, slapping inky black strands across pale flesh. He snarls before capturing my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing the tracks of my tears. “I love you.”
“If this is what it means to have your affections, I do not want them,” I whisper.
His clawed hand caresses my cheek as he presses his dominion into me more, as if he’s desperate, trying to fuse himself with me. “I have adored you in every life, Molly. I fear it cannot be helped.”
He searches my eyes, letting his cool forehead thud into mine softly, spice and cedar seeping into the very core of me. I can’t help but lean in to, press myself into his hold. “What if you get hurt?”
“Then you will be there to save me,” I breathe out, treacherous hope bleeding into my voice as his eyes clear, a hint of white within the unrelenting black. Like smoke. I haven’t seen it in so long.
“I will be there to watch your flesh grow cold. I will be there to lower you into the dirt.” That hope plummets to my feet, slamming past the many floors until it reaches the dirt foundation.
“Y-you bury me?”
“Every time.”
“Where?”
“There is a plot behind the castle.”
It was the wrong thing to cling onto, but my breath is thin, wrapped in his arms as his eyes darken again. His hold is far too comfortable, but I know I should move away. I don’t speak. What is there to say as he presses a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. “I will share your bed tonight. If you must hate me, you will do it wrapped in my arms.”
It’s not a question, and thanks to my damned heart, I can’t find it in me to argue.
38
Canvas
Molly
My movements are listless as I drag the brush against the canvas, my skin heating as Elric’s lips press into my freshest bite. When he said, if I must hate him, I will do it by his side, he meant it. The past few weeks have been just like this. Our bond fluttering with my hurt and his fear like an odd cacophony while he holds and dotes, adores and fucks. He’s wrong about many things lately, but mostly the hate.
The sensation had been short-lived.
Now, I only seem to manage frustration and profound sadness. All my reasoning, all of my attempts to be let out, to eventryfrom the confines to search for a solution, fell on deaf ears. I keep my pity to myself, knowing he would hate that.
The only reason I’m aware of Tien’s sudden appearance is his gruff, tired voice suddenly filling the room. I don’t startle this time. Mynerves are shot, my eyes leaving the ugly canvas to search for any signs of light from outside.
I find none.
“Sir, the doctor is back to discuss his clinic's funding.”
Elric doesn’t halt his adoration of my flesh. “Tell him to return tomorrow.”
“I have…for a week now.”
“I think I would like a bath, in private,” I offer, deciding to help the older man.
Elric growls, his arm capturing my waist as he hugs me tighter to him. “I do not wish to leave you.”
