Finally,she seemed to whisper without words.You have come to the truth, you need me.
I still remember when my mother told me not to be afraid of the shadow lady, as I used to call her. She told me that this wraith wasmine.She was bound to me, to my duty, to my every need. But I was scared of her. Nyxthra and I were bonded, yet I shoved her away. Not only in fear of my own power but also because I could feel the darkness that pulsed from her, which meant it lived inside of me too.
The earth trembled beneath me, as if she had been listening this whole time, waiting for the first crack in my resolve.
Nyxthra seeped into the world like smoke through the seams of reality, black mist curling low to the ground, slithering between the roots and curling around my arms, savoring my skin like a long-awaited homecoming. The forest fell silent. No wind. No breath. Just the pulse of my own heart pounding in my ears.
You called to me because you are losing control,she whispered in my mind.
“No.” I tried to lie.
Lying to me is lying to yourself.Her voice pierced into my mind.You called to me because you do not want to feel like this anymore.
“Yes.” My voice cracked. “I am tired of not being happy.”
You are angry.
“Yes.”
Her power hummed around us.
Then let’s make them pay.
She drifted closer, her edges wavering like she was barely tethered to this plane. One clawed hand traced the air just above my cheek. I felt the bond we shared and felt the hum of power between us, but I also felt the bitterness and hatred for everything too.
I had kept her away not just out of fear for what she might do, but fear for what she revealed about me, how much of this darkness lived inside me, waiting to consume everything. One word hummed between us.
Revenge.
Chapter 14
Abram
My eyes glanced around Della and Haden’s home. Dinner was soon but she wasn’t here yet. Haden and Cassius were talking about babies as each one of them bounced one of the twins. Elowyn had said she had something to do this morning and I hadn't seen her since then.
I missed her.
After what felt like forever of my constant peering around the room, she finally appeared through the front door. I didn’t show how happy I was to see her, even though I had just seen her this morning at breakfast. But she hadn’t talked to me like she normally did then. She seemed distracted and lost in thought.
“Elowyn, you came!” Della came over and hugged her.
Elowyn gave her a breathtaking smile as she handed her some sort of dessert she made. Her eyes found mine, and she smiled again. My gaze dropped to her hand, almost hoping she left the ring on her finger so someone would ask about it. To my disappointment, it wasn’t on her finger. She headed toward methough, and I instinctively took a step toward her. But I caught myself before I could give anything away. I could feel Haden’s gaze burning a hole in me. When I looked at him, he raised his brow at me, but I only leveled a glare at him in return.
He grinned, not intimidated in the slightest by me.
What would they say if they found out I was married and sleeping with a woman who was not my mate? It was unheard of. It was shameful.
“Hi.” Elowyn smiled at me.
Noticing that Cassius had joined Haden in studying us, their gazes bouncing between Elowyn's face and mine. I looked at her and gave her the same indifference I had before we were married.
“Hi,” I said coldly.
I heard her swallow. I felt her disappointment crushing me under the weight of it. Then her shoulders squared and I saw a faint black shimmer around her as if magic was protecting her. What the hell was that?
“Dick,” she whispered, and I turned my glare to her. “Hi, Cassius. Hi, Haden.” She smiled sweetly at them.
“Elowyn, it’s good to see you.” Haden gave her a big smile.
