“But you—” She stops. Realization hits her like lightning. “You changed me.” Her breath catches as she glares at Lucian. “That’s why he hated me,” she whispers. “Because he loves you,” she says, looking at me.
The truth lands between us, sharp and inescapable. “I’d hate me too,” she murmurs, then looks back at them, fury igniting. “How could you do that to him, to your own brother?”
“We have rules,” Marko says stiffly. “A code. He knew it better than anyone.”
“Your code is monstrous,” Evelynn snaps. We both rise to our feet. Lucian steps toward her. She holds up a hand, stopping him cold. “Don’t.” Her voice is ice. “You lied to me. To her. I’m not ready to forgive that.” The words hang heavy.
“Where is Silas?” Cain asks suddenly. All eyes turn to me.
My throat tightens. “He’s back in Velmora,” I say quietly. “He’s…” The words won’t come.
Cain steps in close, lifting my chin, forcing me to meet his blazing red gaze. “He’s what?” he demands. My vision blurs.
“He made a blood oath with Morbius,” I whisper. “For my freedom.”
Lucian moves closer now, something dark and lethal burning in his eyes.
“What was the oath?” he asks, voice low, dangerous.
My lips tremble. “Himself,” I choke. “As a vessel.”
The world tilts. Everything breaks. Cain pulls me into him as I finally shatter, the sob ripping out of me uncontrollably, years of pain collapsing all at once. And this time…I don’t fight it.
“Fuck!” Lucian roars into the night sky, the sound echoing off the mountains. “Cain, you ride with Lilith on the back of your bike. We ride the last sixty miles into the town. Go to his room, and we fucking plan and find a way to break the blood oath that doesn’t end in him dying.”
My body jolts as if I’ve been stabbed in the chest.
“Petal, you can be pissed at me all you want. I will take your wrath later, but right now. You are to get on the back of my bike, do as you’re told,” Lucian orders. I don’t hear Evelynn argue. I lift my head from Cain’s chest, looking up at him. He looks down on me, his hands lightly caressing my cheeks. “We will get him back. I promise,” he states firmly, before placing a chaste kiss on top of my head.
As we ride back toward the town, my arms wrapped around Cain, my cheek resting against his back. My anger and hurt dim, but the growing, gnawing pain coiling in my gut is: what if we can’t break the oath? I’m angry at Silas, furious. But the thought of losing him causes agony.
As we ride into the town, my eyes are drawn to Velmora. I can’t tear my gaze away from it. Is he still him? Are we too late?
We descend on the B&B, a roar of noise causing curtains to twitch and the locals to scurry off in fear. We spot Silas’ bike and wait outside as Lucian walks in; I’m guessing to talk to the owner. He’s not in there long before he comes out. “I’ve paid and hired the entire place. She’s just leaving now,” Lucian states.
“What about other guests?” Evelynn asks in disbelief.
“Paid them off, too.” He shrugs.
I get off Cain’s bike, my eyes falling back on Velmora. “We will get him out of there,” Cain swears beside me.
I give him a side glance. “Right now, I can’t decide if I want to kill him myself or rescue him,” I sigh honestly.
“You can kill him once we’ve got him out of there.” Cain smirks.
Evelynn comes to my side. “Come on. You’re sharing with me,” she urges.
“With me?” I ask in disbelief, my eyes flickering to Lucian, who looks like he’s about to burn down the entire town.
“Yes, I’m still mad at him for lying to me, to you, to his brothers. Lies always get found out,” Evelynn snaps.
“In the doghouse.” Cain’s lips twitch as he walks inside the B&B.
Evelynn and I shut ourselves in the room. Lucian calls court, meaning they’re all downstairs discussing various tactics and how to approach Velmora. I did warn them about the hundreds of vessels.
I sit in the chair at the window, staring up at the dark shadow of Velomora. “So, you love Silas?” Evelynn asks, I look over at her sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard, her feet crossed at the ankles.
I shrug. “I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
