“Did you have the infirmary check your stitches as well?” I harp. “Did they make sure your wound didn’t open or get infected from that water? Is it moving or stagnant water you have to be concerned about?” I shake my head, and begin pacing in front of Braxton. “It doesn’t matter. That water is probably filthy, regardless. And when you say jumped into to save her, do you mean like you jumped? Or did you more-so let gravity take you? Could that rip your stitches? You didn’t hit the water on your side did you? I’m pretty sure swimming in a rough current is frowned upon with a fresh stab wound.” Having dispelled all the air from my lungs, I’m forced to stop my onslaught of questions and take a breath. When he stays silent, I glare at him before smacking his shoulder. “Well, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Oh, is it my turn to talk now? I didn’t want to be rude and interrupt the conversation you were having with yourself.” He jests, and I can’t stop the rosy smile that fills my face.
“I was just…” I don’t want to admit the full truth. It’s too embarrassing, especially considering how I would have previously relished the thought of him catching a skin-eating disease that would kill him, or at the very least disfigure him.
“Worried,” he supplies lifting a brow.
That stupid fucking word.
“No,” I snap a little too quickly. I cross my arms over my chest defiantly. “I was worried about me and what would happen to me if you went and got yourself killed like an idiot.”
He nods, but his curved lips tell me everything I need to know about how amusing he’s finding all of this.
“Anyway, did you come in here for a reason or to just try and impress me with your random act of heroism?” There’s too much bite in my tone.
I know my ignominy is screaming at me to retreat. I’m showing him too many of my cards, and now I’m wondering if that means I’ve simply stopped playing the game.
“So, you think I’m heroic?”
I roll my eyes. “Braxton,” I push.
“There’s more I have to tell you…” His words trail off as he pauses.
My shoulders inadvertently tense, only putting me further on edge. “Please do take your time. I love waiting for bad news.”
My brattiness doesn’t deter him, and I have to force myself not to believe it’s because he understands why I’m acting this way. No. That can’t be right. Because that would mean that he understands me, and I have no idea what the fuck I would do with that information if it were true.
“The current in the stream pulled us outside of the castle grounds.”
My forehead creases when he doesn’t elaborate. “Okay?” I prod.
He lets out a slow breath. “The reason you weren’t allowed to leave the castle grounds wasn’t because of your curse. It was because of mine. Neither of us could leave or we would turn to dust.”
I blink rapidly as if that will help me better absorb this new information he’s telling me. He can’t possibly mean…
“If I can leave, that means you can too,” he supplies, answering my unasked question.
Finally registering where he’s going with this, my head snaps up, and my eyes widen as I take in his sullen expression.
“Braxton…” I can’t finish the thought racing through my mind for fear I’m wrong, so I simply wait with bated breath for him to continue.
“I’m releasing you Azalea.” His face turns forlorn. “You’re free.”
50
Braxton
“I’mreleasingyou,Azalea.You’re free.” The words taste like bile as they leave my mouth. “You can go home.”
Being able to go outside the castle grounds without consequences only further proves the rapid deterioration of this curse. Once Dianthus realizes that I know something is wrong, I don’t know what course of action she’ll take to get what she wants. For that reason alone, I need Azalea to get as far away from here as possible.
Though I don’t know what home she’ll be returning to. This was her home before the curse. I don’t know what waits for her back on Minem Island. It’s been a century, so I know she won’t find any family there. And she’ll be utterly confused by all of it. But she could fall in love again. She could live a life the way she wants to again. She was always too free a spirit to be trapped in a cage. I thought I would be able to free us from this cage together, but I’m not so sure anymore.
Besides, who’s to say she would want to leave together once she learns the full truth? For all I know, she’ll hate me, and she should. This castle changed her; that is undoubtedly true. Itmade her fiercer, stronger, a little more hard-headed than I care to admit, but in every way she grew and changed, she remained beautiful in her soul.
My soul, on the other hand, is twisted. Gnarled in a darkness that has been given decades to fester, ruminating in bitter, frustrated hatred. What do I truly offer her when all is said and done?
That’s why I’m staying here and watching her leave. Let Dianthus come for me. Let her do whatever she wishes.
