A third voice enters the conversation, a deep, dark voice that makes my skin crawl. I can’t contain my curiosity as I peekaround Emrys, ignoring Elijah’s burning stare. A large man, almost the same size as Emrys, stands next to Elijah. His eyes are the brightest green I have ever seen, unnatural and cold,dead. He waves at me derisively, his smirk revealing his pointed teeth—the Dhampir.
Elijah truly is affiliated with this group of hunters, out to kill those who belong to the darkness. A feeling of disappointment and loathing settles within me. The Dhampir focuses his attention on the bane of my existence, the human that haunts me, standing on the other side of the wards. One who stubbornly holds on to his fictitious, cursed emotions, something he isn't even aware of. Elijah barely acknowledges the Dhampir; his attention is solely focused on me, on my every move, and he is watching me like a hawk. His nostrils flare like a bull ready to storm and attack. Instinctively, I push myself into Emrys, into safety, who wraps his arm around me.
“Elijah, an Umbra is not one whose wrath you want to provoke. Especially not one as strong as this one, who has shown unprecedented patience with you. He could snap your bones in a mere second if he willed, without the need to move.”
The Dhampir curtly nods to Emrys, respecting and acknowledging his power. Emrys politely returns the gesture, clarifying that he has no issue with the Dhampir… yet. Then, despite the wards, he refocuses his attention back on Elijah. I can tell my monster is on high alert, not trusting either of them.
“I don’t give a fuck what he is or what he can do, Faas! She belongs to me! Sunshine is fucking mine, and she knows it; she is just too afraid to admit it because of that fucking bloodsucker,” Elijah yells in return.
“Mine,” Emrys growls possessively.
The raging, violent energy exuding from Emrys makes even me shiver. I am relieved I am not on the receiving end. His shadows spring from his skin and swirl around us dangerously,ready to annihilate whoever crosses their path. Shadows from the walls also start to ripple and move, closing in on Elijah and the Dhampir. In response to Emrys’s aggressive snarl and intimidating shadows—a forewarning—the Dhampir, rather than escalating the situation, grabs Elijah roughly by the collar, like a scorned child.
“Enough!!” Faas sneers at Elijah.
“We did not come here to make an enemy out of an Umbra over some girl. She’s his, of her own free will, as she just said. I can tell she’s speaking the truth. She made her decision, and it's not you, Elijah. You leave her alone; she’s of no concern to you. I, for one, willnotrouse the Umbra, nor will you. I enjoy staying alive. Mark my words, boy; if you decide to disobey me, you will not only have the Umbra to contend with, but also me, Elijah. I will do things to you far worse than he will.”
Elijah's eyes dart from the Dhampir to me, torn by the decision being made for him. Unable to go against the pull of the curse, he keeps talking and ignores Faas’s warning.
“Harlot, don’t do this to me, please, don’t. I know you love me. I love you, please. I know you feel the same as I do. Please, fight the compulsion that damn vampire holds over you. You and I are supposed to be together; if only you would let me hold you, you would know… You would instinctively know, just like when we first met. You knew it then, too,” he pleads in a rambling tone.
“Pickme, Sunshine. I am better for you. I will make you happier than he ever can. Trust me, I am the better choice! I love you!”
Tears well in his eyes as he fights his false instincts fed by the curse to defy the Dhampir in front of him, to fight for what is not his in the first place. To put his own life on the line just to confess his love for me, a false love not worthy of dying for.
“Never,” I say, agitated, as a burning sensation crashes through me, spreading like wildfire through my veins until I feel it buzzing under my skin.
“I chose him, Elijah. I already did. I am his, and he is mine; why can’t you understand that?! I. Don’t. Want. You.”
I grind my teeth, fighting the torment coiling inside me. I feel as if with each rejection, the soulmate connection slowly tears apart a little further, and it hurts; it hurts so goddamn much. A necessary pain I need to suffer if I ever want to live in freedom, released from these unnatural shackles. Emrys responds to my distress immediately, an act that does not go unnoticed by the Dhampir. I see him eyeing us with interest from the corner of my eye.
The Dhampir, Emrys, he’s watching us.
I don’t care, my love. You are with me, mine, and everyone can know that.
I look at Emrys; I feel adoration now as he dotes on me. My monster, a flaming Hell for any who tries to defy us, a safe Haven for me, and me alone. My heart is full of love, only for him.
Yours always, Emrys.
“Keep your human away from her, Faas, or I’ll do it myself, and I’ll add you to the mix,” Emrys bites at the Dhampir. “She is mine. She ismymate,” he adds.
A flicker of fear is written on Elijah’s face at the evident threat. The Dhampir nods at Emrys, understanding the implications if he is unable to put a muzzle on Elijah. He comprehends Emrys's statement: I am his mate, and he will hunt down anyone who touches me. He will know, and you’ll be unable to hide from him and his torment. An Umbra is a lethal creature for any darkling, even a dhampir, no matter their strength or magic.
Faas starts dragging a crying, screaming Elijah away. Elijah tries to catch a glimpse of me, calling my name, but I intentionally ignore him, hiding myself, almost cowardly, behind Emrys, out of his sight. I can’t stand the look on Elijah’s face, the fear, the sadness. I have to pull through for Emrys, myself, and even Elijah; once I have severed the magical connection, he, too, will be free and can find the love he deserves. One who is not me, his person, willneverbe me. I dismiss the feeling of fallacious dismay that floats to the surface. It seems with each rejection of Elijah, my soul feels a little lighter, and the part of my mind reserved for him grows numb after every confrontation, as I choose Emrys again and again. As Elijah’s voice is fading, pulled away by the Dhampir, Emrys picks me up, removing me from the source of my misery, my cursed soulmate, a man whom I feel false affection for and true hate simultaneously.
DIARY ENTRY:
We refuse to let you win. This will be our choice and not yours. This will be our loophole.
Forbidden Entanglement
FYNN
Chapter 15
For now, I have forsaken the notion of tracking down Harlot, albeit my mind urges me to find her, to wrap my hands around her neck, and throttle her. I want to watch her face turn a dark purple, her eyes darting around until no more life can be found. I need to hear her last gasp as she takes her final breath and dies in my hands. Her head lolling to the side and her neck covered in the dark bruising of my fingers; that’s what I envision; that is what I dream of. The thoughts conjure no emotions; I feel nothing, and I have no remorse or guilt.
I look at Jodelle, who has her forehead pressed against the window as she stares outside through the fogged glass; she’s becoming restless, being locked away in this room for days straight. Without me by her side, it’s not safe for her to roam the streets. Mother rarely shows her face, unwilling to share a space with Jodelle unless absolutely necessary, and I lost faith that she was looking for a permanent place to stay a while ago. I fail even to foresee a future where the four of us could live. The moment Harlot comes home without that monstrosity attached to her hip, we’ll only need a place for three to live. I wonder if Harlotis aware that every breath she takes could be her last. This inn provides a roof over our heads, but it is far from being a true residence. We’ve stayed at more horrific lodgings that felt like an actual home.
