“What?” Her voice came out small, broken. “What do you mean? Don’t you remember me? It’s me, Emily. Your wife.”
Her words hung in the damp air like a ghost, distant and haunting.
I took a step forward, heat rising in my chest. We thought he was dead. We grieved him.
“How are you here?” I questioned. “How did you find us? Why are you here?”
Marcellious’ gaze locked onto mine, dark and unreadable.
“I’m here for one reason,” he said, his voice like gravel.
I clenched my fists. “And what’s that?”
Marcellious’ eyes burned with an unhinged, feral madness. His pupils were blown wide, his expression twisted with something raw and volatile.
“I’m here for the journal,” he snarled. “On Balthazar’s orders.”
Terror gripped my limbs, locking me in place. Balthazar’s orders?
“Show me where it is, and no one gets hurt.” His sneer deepened as he seized the front of my dress, his fingers twisting into the fabric. “I need to bring it to Lord Balthazar.”
Something in me snapped.
“Let go of me, you asshole.” I wrenched his hand away, my old fire roaring back to life.
But my mind whirled with a different kind of fear. Had Balthazar poisoned Marcellious’ mind, just like he did to me when he made me try to kill Roman?
Marcellious lunged, fingers reaching for my throat.
I dodged, looking to Emily.
She had collapsed to her knees, her body overcome with gut-wrenching sobs.
“His mind has been poisoned, Em,” I said, trying to reach her. “He doesn’t mean this.”
Emily’s tear-streaked face lifted, her eyes searching mine, clinging to hope.
But Marcellious let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. “Don’t beridiculous.” His voice dripped with scorn. “I need the journal. My master needs the journal. And I will get it.”
I clenched my jaw. “What the hell are you talking about, Marcellious? Have you lost your mind? You know Balthazar is a monster. A demon. You fought against him once.” My voice cracked with disbelief. “How could you stand here and say otherwise?”
Marcellious’ hands curled into tight fists.
“I only believe in my master, Lord Balthazar.” His voice vibrated with manic conviction. “Only him.”
Spittle flew from his lips. His entire body taut, his muscles rigid with unnatural devotion.
A sick dread curled in my stomach, cold and suffocating.
He wasn’t just lost.
He was as insane as Balthazar.
I contemplated my next move.
Rosie hid, small and silent behind the tree. Emily remained frozen on the forest floor, her breath in shallow gasps.
There was no way I could gather them both and make a run for the house before Marcellious caught us. And where the hell was Malik? He had to know Marcellious was on his property.
