Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
EVIE
B etter yet, what was I doing here? Where even was here ?
“Same as you, I imagine,” the great Dragon of the Blood Brotherhood Clan said, in a commanding, ethereal voice, like he was talking from beyond a void.
Even his body was hazy, as if his sinewy muscles had been twisted out of smoke.
I took a shaky step back, finally staring at my hands. They shimmered just like the mist.
Strange.
I ran my fingers down my arm.
I didn’t feel anything .
I pinched my skin.
Nothing.
No prick, no tingle, no sensation.
“It’s a dream,” I whispered, relieved, and collapsed on top of the altar. At least that meant I’d finally fallen asleep. I needed all the rest I could get.
“It’s a nightmare,” he said and stepped closer to me. “So what will it be now, menace? What new insults will you hurl my way?”
I frowned. This imagined version of my husband had a vicious lilt to his voice. “I didn’t insult you.”
A cruel grin spread on his face. This truly was a nightmare. “Come on, don’t disappoint me now. You got very creative with your accusations last time.”
I narrowed my eyes. It wasn’t enough that my body had turned against me, now my mind had betrayed me. I already had to be tormented by him in real life, wasn’t that enough?
“I didn’t accuse you of anything you didn’t do,” I gritted out. “Own up to it.”
“That’s it.” The edges of his smirk turned sharper. I swore he grew fangs, too. Like a monster ready to devour me. “You wanted to make me suffer, right? So do it.”
“Stop it,” I hissed.
He stalked closer. “You won’t stop, why should I?”
“What are you talking about?” I shook my head. I was not about to argue with myself. “I’ve been avoiding you for weeks.”
“Lies,” he growled.
“Between the two of us, the only liar is you .”
“Coward.” He laughed grimly.
I blistered. “I have more courage than you.”
“Then say what’s really on your mind.”
“You want to know what I really think?” I jumped off the altar and prowled toward him.
This was my dream, my imagination, and he could fuck off and let me sleep.
“Yes,” he hissed, tilting his chin up as if he was awaiting some great big blow.
My breaths turned harsh. Hectic. In real life, I’d had enough self control to not make an even bigger fool of myself. But here, with only my mind as a witness…
“You broke my heart.” My voice cracked, filled with the tears I’d hidden from everyone.
His brows rose in surprise. The monstrous grin vanished as his lips parted.
“I told myself not to trust you,” I went on, voice high-pitched and embarrassing. “But you slithered your way into my life and my heart, despite my best efforts, and I fell.”
He stepped closer.
“I let myself be vulnerable with you. Open. I felt–” An ugly sob wracked my frame. “I felt like someone saw me, flaws and all, for the first time. And you liked it. You told me you liked all of my ugly parts. And my good ones. I placed my trust and love in the palm of your hand, literally, and you crumpled me into nothing.”
One last step, and he was right in front of me, still and silent, while my trembling voice echoed around us on a loop.
“You made me believe I could be someone–that I was someone–then you hurt me worse than anyone ever has.” I struggled to breathe. “You–you made a fool of me. A damn fool. And I don’t even know why .”
To my astonishment, the mighty Dragon fell to his knees in front of me. He circled his arms around my thighs, leaning his face against my legs. His hair cascaded around his temples, shielding his eyes from view, but I sensed his harsh, haggard breaths beating against my skin.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, sounding as lost as I felt. There was a deep well of remorse and penitence in those small words. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
I settled my hands on his bare shoulders, whether to push him away or bring him closer, I didn’t know. I didn’t do either. I just stood there, with him on his knees, apologizing over and over again, and me crying my heart out.
“I was so naive,” I whispered. “I had no idea what this world could and would do to me. And you knew how innocent I was. I never tried to hide it. I didn’t pretend. Why didn’t you just leave me alone? We could have kept our distance, two strangers marrying to uphold the contract and keep everyone safe, and that would’ve been it. No emotions, no suffering. Why ?”
“I’m sorry,” he kept on whispering, like a prayer.
I only sobbed harder. “Why did you make me fall in love with you, only to betray me?”
“I’m sorry.”
We both took a great, heaving breath. He looked up at me, his eyes rimmed red.
“Hearing this, seeing you cry…” he whispered. “This is the worst torture.”
Before I could reply, I began to shake. I yanked my hands away from him.
No, someone yanked me.
With a cry, I was ripped from the cavern and woke up in my own bed.
Back to reality–and this one was more frightening.
“Your Highness, please,” Leesa cried, shaking my shoulders. “Please get up. There’s a fire, we need to hurry!”