Cassia told me I would find something to awaken my dark heart, but what she didn’t know was that it had been dead for far too long. Though the female set my blood alight, I refused to allow her anywhere near me. She would not be the one to bring me out of this sanctuary of calamity I have built for myself.
Chapter 19
Samian
It took some time for Sybil to calm down once we returned after her talk with Ambrose. She didn’t have to tell me what happened. I didn’t need to look into her memories to understand. The water dripping from her hair and face told me exactly what he’d done. I could hear his shouts through the door, feel her terror rippling through the bond.
The disgust I felt with myself when she finally stepped through that door with those wild, unseeing eyes almost knocked me off my feet. Only the image of her bloody body lying out on the cold, stone floors of the dungeon stopped me from moving, stopped me from stepping back into that room, to end his torment. However, if Ambrose ever found out about the bond between Sybil and me, he would break her just to see—to feel—the devastation drown me. He already proved that during his time with Aster during our younger years. And with the bargain he forced me to take after Cassia was imprisoned, I wouldn’t be able to do a thing to stop him.
Until I could free Sybil from the bargain and get her out of this palace safely, I needed to hold back my wrath and bide my time until I could obliterate his very existence.
Ivara at last came out of the washroom with Sybil in tow. Sybil’s eyes were still swollen and puffy, but she wore a broad smile, chuckling at whatever Ivara had just said. My heart felt lighter at the sight of her, at how she could still find joy after her time with Arianna and Ambrose. There was a perseverance about Sybil that could shame even the most seasoned warriors.
Sybil’s gaze caught mine as I sat on her bed, waiting for her to return. Though I told her to rest today, she insisted we go to the forest to meet with Kieran, to tell him Ambrose’s plans for his newest prisoners. I could feel impatience gnawing at her mind, could see it in the way she played with the hem of her tunic as she anxiously eyed the hidden passageway. I let loose a breath, gesturing for her to come closer.
Ivara left the room, giving Sybil a small pat on the shoulder, but Sybil’s eyes never strayed from mine. Her lips rose in a shy smile, her chin dipping to hide her beautiful face, but she moved in close, stepping between my legs. I widened them to give her more room and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer. I let my head drop against her chest and closed my eyes, breathing in her scent. Bergamot, lavender, and sage filled my senses, calming my mind as I listened to Sybil’s heartbeat pick up. I could feel her contentment through our bond, growing as she wrapped her arms around my head, holding me close, as if she never wanted to let me go.
I lifted my head to stare into her eyes, studying the dark green that was taking over the brown. Her gaze softened, and she leaned down, her lips grazing against mine before letting them meet. My cock twitched, and I opened for her, her tongue caressing mine. My hands moved up her back, pulling her into me as I wrapped my hand around the nape of her neck.
Falling into the bed, I dragged Sybil with me, moving her thighs on either side of me, to straddle me. I deepened our kiss,my hands moving to her hips, grinding her against my hardened cock. Chuckling, Sybil pulled away, patting my chest.
“We need to go to the forest,” she breathed, though her lips rose in a cruel smile. “Remember?”
Groaning, I sat up, though my grip tightened on her hips, keeping her in place. “Yes, I unfortunately remember,” I growled. “We don’t have to do this today, though. You can take some time to rest and?—”
“I know,” Sybil murmured softly, cutting me off. “But I don’t want to rest. I want—no, Ineed—to help those prisoners.” She paused, shaking her head. “It’s easy to talk back, to ruffle some feathers, but it's not enough. I need to do more, to do something that will actually help them. I know that Ivara and Daelan have people they need to protect, and that you can’t publicly go against him to protect Queen Cassia. I really do understand, but I can’t just sit back and watch this all happen when I have the connections and ability to help them.”
Letting my forehead drop to hers, I released a tight sigh. While what Sybil said was true about protecting the queen, it was more than that. My bargain with Ambrose made it impossible for me to cause him harm, and because of that, I now had to watch my mate fight to survive Ambrose’s whims. “Then I guess we need to get to the forest,” I grumbled.
Sybil flashed me a bright smile and gave me a quick kiss before jumping off my lap. I stifled a groan, falling back to the bed, willing my blood to cool. This female was going to be the death of me.
A few short minutes later, I transferred Ivara, Daelan, Sybil, and me to our spot. Kieran, Ezra, Orin, and Vivi sat waiting for us on the rocks. As soon as Kieran spotted us, he strode forward, crashing into Sybil. Rolling my eyes, I turned away, focusing on Vivi and Orin.
“Still haven’t come to terms with him being her mate?” Vivi asked with a raised eyebrow. Amusement flashed in her eyes, Orin chuckling in the background.
“Don’t start with me,” I scowled. “I’m fine with it; I just didn’t expect I would have to share.”
“Seems like you'd better get used to it,” Daelan quipped, clapping a hand on my back. “I always knew this would happen, didn’t I, Ivara?”
“Oh yes, of all themanyconversations we’ve had,” Ivara said sarcastically, with wide eyes, “your thinking Samian and Kieran having the same mate was theoneconversation you couldn’t refrain from discussing.”
Daelan snarled while Orin sniggered. Ivara gave me a quick wink as she passed by to sit with Vivi. Settling on one of the rocks, Kieran and Sybil finally joined the group, though he didn’t let her get far from his reach.
Taking a seat on the rock opposite to mine, Kieran pulled Sybil onto his lap, keeping his arms tight around her waist. Sybil turned red, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the group.
“It’s fine,” I murmured through our bond. “You don’t have to feel embarrassed. He is also your mate.”
“You look upset,” Sybil said softly, her tone hesitant.
“I’m only annoyed that he is keeping you all to himself, that he is getting to enjoy you without me.” Sybil’s blush grew, and I smiled, ready to continue, when a hand moved in front of my face and snapped.
“We’re not here to watch the three of you start some weird ass foreplay,” Ezra complained, giving me a pointed look. “We need to discuss the prisoners, remember?”
“I know what we are here for,” I forced out, the side of my lip curling. Kieran chuckled at my outburst, tugging Sybil closer to his chest. The motherfucker knew he was driving me crazy by keeping her close.
“You wanted to make a plan to save them?” Kieran asked Sybil.
Sybil nodded, throwing a quick glance my way as if waiting for my permission. When I motioned for her to continue, she took a deep breath. “Ambrose is planning to hold a public execution in three days, along with a celebration the week after. We are still waiting for the time, but he is planning to invite everyone in Volmire, along with the nobles, to watch, so he can announce his becoming the ‘temporary’ king. I think we should form a group of rebels to stop the execution. To remind the people that Ambrose can’t be allowed to get away with this.”
