Page 88 of When Bones Whisper
“Don’t reminisce about what could have been. It is a horrid torture.” Nathaniel’s thumb swept her cheek, wiping the drops away. “These memories only hurt because they are filled with love. You loved your family, and they loved you,” he said deeply as she choked out another sob. “Hold on to that. That demon, mymother, and all the Avery witches left in London will try to turn your soft heart into a weapon. You cannot let them.”
“But I miss my family,” she spluttered, a long guttural scream vibrating behind closed lips when the permanence of them never coming back sunk in. “They’re never coming back and I can’t breathe sometimes. It hurts too much, and I just want this to all be a dream. I want to go back.”
Panic settled in, setting her nerves on fire. Trying to suck in deep breaths, she gripped the covers, unable to fully inflate her lungs.
Nathaniel’s hands landed on her shoulders, and with wild eyes, he pulled her tight in an unexpected hug that elicited a gasp from her lips. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled into her ear, cradling her head to his chest. She breathed in his intoxicating blend of musk and smoked wood, intermixed with fresh sweat. Somewhere along the way, unbeknownst to her until that very second, it had become her favorite scent.
“I know this feels like you’re going to die,” he said. “It’s the worst kind of pain imaginable, but you will survive it.I promise.”
He held her for the next several minutes, stroking her hair as she screamed into a void of pain heating her from the inside. Even from the other side of the manor she could feel the demon's pull, but being in Nathaniel’s arms, listening to his heartbeat through his chest, grounded her.
She clutched the fabric of his white shirt and squeezed her eyes shut, knowing if anyone knew how she felt, it was the centuries old vampire who had outlived everyone he loved, whoeven had to kill his own mother to protect the slaughter of children.
Katherine cleared her throat and walked inside. “Am I interrupting?”
“Did you have it?” Nathaniel asked, warning lacing his tone.
Zachariah nodded, walking in behind her. “I watched her make it.”
“I’m not your enemy,” she stated.
Charlotte pulled back from Nathaniel, her brows creasing. They didn’t trust her either.
Katherine sighed. “The potion won’t work right away, but by morning, the hex should be gone. You can only hope the demon hasn’t attached itself too much already, because there’s no getting rid of that.”
“It’s not. The potion will work,” Nathaniel intoned.
“You almost sound concerned, Nathaniel,” she said, spite lacing each word.
He didn’t respond. Instead, he grabbed the vial of golden, bubbling liquid from her hands and brought it to Charlotte’s lips. “Trust me,” he said when she flinched. “It’s safe.”
She winced, breathing in the strong, perfumed scent. “How do you know?”
Zachariah answered this time. “Because Katherine won’t risk the lives of her family.”
Wide-eyed, she gasped, looking at Nathaniel. “You threatened her family?”
“From the very beginning,” he said unapologetically.
No wonder Katherine acted suspiciously. She didn’t even want to be there.
Her next question was lost in a wave of anguish. Desperate, she grabbed the vial and tipped the contents down her throat, the cloying liquid burning her esophagus on the way down.
Katherine tilted her head, watching carefully. “I’ll check on Gertrude again and strengthen the barrier spell.”
Nathaniel nodded once, letting out a sigh when she left. He looked at Zachariah and said, “We will manage now. You can go home.”
Zachariah nodded and left the room in a hurry, along with Katherine.
Once they were alone, Charlotte hunched over, wincing against ripples of pain tearing over her spine. “This potion is like liquid fire.”
“I know,” he said, brushing back a lock of her hair. “It’s just one night you have to get through, and then it’ll be over.”
She bit her lip, exhaustion rippling through her. “I need to lie down. Will you stay with me?”
He brushed his thumb against her cheek as she slowly closed her eyes. “Yes.”
“I still need to talk to you about yourgift,” she added with a yawn, letting him know she hadn’t forgotten that chest he left at her door. Although shehadtold him she regretted not killing Charles, so she couldn’t truly be angry at him doing it.
