“And now your story, Kiev,” Helina said, smiling. “You must tell us everything.”
I breathed in deeply and recounted everything to them. I left out the most harrowing of details. But otherwise I was honest about everything up until the point that I arrived at Aviary.
They gasped and sighed, and Helina got up to squeeze my shoulder and hug me on numerous occasions. I didn’t mention anything about Mona or Matteo’s island. When asked how I found out about their island, I lied and said that I’d heard the rumor spreading around during my stay in The Tavern that their island was a safe haven for vampires. And that I’d been looking to find it ever since.
Erik frowned. “You travelled for days in a boat, in the open ocean, in the heat of the sun? How the hell did you survive that?”
I looked at him solemnly. “I’ve survived a lot.”
Erik looked like he was about to ask another question, but I changed the subject before he could press further.
“Where did you come back from today?” I asked.
They all exchanged looks.
“That is… a long story. I don’t think now’s the time for it.” Arielle spoke up for the first time, eyeing the others.
“I think you’ll like it here, Kiev,” Helina interjected quickly. “I really do. You no longer have to be subordinate to any Elders. You’re completely free to do whatever you please. With no consequences.”
A darkness flickered in her eyes as she licked blood from her lips. It disturbed me deeply that my innocent little sister had become a creature like me.
By the time we’d finished talking, the sun was in the sky—I could see the ocean glistening beyond the spell’s boundary.
“Well, I’m exhausted,” Erik said. “I think we should all get some rest.”
Julisse tugged on his shirt. He stood up and they both walked out of Helina’s chambers. I stood up and Helina wrapped her arms around me, wishing me a good sleep.
As I lay in my bed, I had no hope of sleeping. My mind was too alive. Whirring with questions. With doubts. With fears.
But most of all, the promise I had made to Matteo echoed in my ears.
“I’ll be back in a few days with a witch. I promise.”
Chapter 12: Mona
Hearing Rhys say my name sent shivers down my spine. That deep voice I’d known so well almost felt like a stranger’s voice. I hadn’t heard it in years.
I’d sworn to myself that I’d be dead before I heard him say my name again.
He reached for his hood and lowered it, releasing dark curls that framed his pale face. His pitch-black eyes glinted in the moonlight.
“No,” I breathed. “No.”
I shut my eyes tight and, pulling my knees against my chest, buried my head in my arms.
I’m still dreaming. This is just a nightmare. I just need to wake up.
Wake up, Mona. Wake up.
The floorboards creaked as he neared me, and his heavy leather boots thudded.
Wake up. Please, God, let me wake up.
His deep breathing came directly above me. I dared not open my eyes and look up.
“Don’t you miss having purpose to your life?” His voice rumbled through the night air. Each syllable was a dagger in my wounded soul.
I remained silent, my rasping breathing filling my ears.
“Or have you convinced yourself that you find pleasure in this wretched life you’re living?”
I felt him bend down to my level. I trembled as he reached out a hand and placed it on a bare patch of shoulder that the blanket wasn’t large enough to cover.
“You’re freezing.”
He removed his thick black cloak and motioned to wrap it around me. I jerked backward, struggling to keep the blanket covering me as I moved.
“Leave me,” I whispered.
“Leave you?” His voice had become dangerously quiet. “To perish here in the ocean? For a ship of ogres to find you once day breaks? Sometimes I think you don’t realize what a gift you’ve been given. The honor that’s been bestowed upon you just by being born as one of our kind. You take too much for granted.”
I couldn’t find words to respond. All I knew was that, no matter what, I couldn’t let myself fall back into his arms.
“I can fulfill your every need,” Rhys continued, pacing up and down in front of me. “I can show you a life most can’t even dream of. Is surrender such a big price to pay in return for that? Pride always was your greatest weakness. It blinds you from seeing what’s good for you. What’s in your best interest.”
I bit my lip, keeping my mouth shut. I wished I could cover my ears from his poison, but doing so would mean the blanket falling away from me. I tried to bury my head against my arms, but his words still leaked through.
Before I could react, he reached around me and fastened the cloak over me. Then, taking hold of the damp blanket beneath it, he pulled it away from me. I held on tight to the cloak to not reveal myself to him. But he didn’t stop at the removal of the blanket. His hand crept up to my thigh where he rested it for several seconds. The area became instantly warm. I realized what was happening. Looking down in horror, I gasped.
I’d tried to forget the brand—a thorny pitch-black rose—was ever imprinted on my body. I’d thought it had finally disappeared from my years of scrubbing away at it.
But now that Rhys’ cool fingers ran along it, it emitted a dull red glow, coming alive beneath his touch. Finally, he removed his hand and showed me his palm. His brand—identical to mine, in the center of his palm—glowed red too.
“We bonded ourselves for a reason,” he said softly, his face barely a few inches from mine. The intensity of his black eyes made my breath hitch. I wanted to look away, but something about them had arrested me completely. “Do you not remember that? What happened to your fire, Mona? We used to be so good together. We accomplished… so much.”
I stood up, knocking his hand away from me. Turning my back on him, I looked out toward the ocean.
“You think you know why I want you back,” he continued. “Yes, since we are bound, it can’t be denied that we are stronger when we are together in service of the Ancients. But more than that… I do still love you, Mona.”
I never loved you. We were childhood friends, and all you ever did was take advantage of that history we shared.
I shivered as he slid his hands around my waist and breathed against the nape of my neck.
“I can make this nightmare disappear,” he whispered into my ear.