Chapter 27 #3
My blood chilled. I halted, my hands lay over her shoulders as she crossed her arms over her chest, turning her towards me.
Of course I remembered. She’d been beaten so badly, locked in her rooms for turning on Enfys.
She’d refused to let me see her. I hadn’t believed it.
Sorrow and Enfys had never been close, but I never believed she’d turned on her own sister, clawed her face simply because she was jealous.
And I was right.
‘Your mama?’
Her eyes widened as she scoured my chest, every muscle in her beautiful body tensed.
‘Your mama did that to Enfys?’
She sniffed, her eyes rimmed with red, and I tucked her into my chest, nestled my chin gently on her head.
No wonder she’d thought what happened was her fault.
I closed my eyes as she shook in my arms. All this time.
I’d struggled to understand her reasons for refusing to train.
Been confused by the fear in her eyes when I discovered her gift hadn’t been taken.
‘So you hid it?’
She nodded, her fist gripping my tunic, and I placed a kiss to the top of her head.
‘I couldn’t control them, the threads. And it’s not getting better. Without balance, they’re rebelling. Something isn’t right. And… I could have lost you.’
She sucked in a deep breath.
‘Sorrow, you’ve barely trained that side of you. Without Gles—’ Pain shot across her face at her mentor’s name. They’d constantly bickered, but it was clear how they’d adored each other. ‘Without a mentor, a Deviant, you’re scared it’ll keep happening?’
She nodded, pulled herself from my grip and swiped her tears.
‘I didn’t tell you, because saying it out loud…
’ She straightened, tears brimmed in her eyes as they met mine and she offered her hand.
Smiling, I took it, pressing a light kiss to her knuckles and we set off again.
‘Facing what this damned gift did to Enfys was too much. I thought if I taught myself, just used the silver threads, the ones that control the animals, I’d be all right.
I only wanted to see how far I’d survive. ’
Clouds, dark and promising rain, slipped above us and I picked up the pace. We’d need shelter, and soon.
‘Then this very annoying, though incredibly handsome king came along.’
I glanced over, a little smile lay on her face.
‘And suddenly, I realised I had a reason to live. So,’ She raised her hand, pressed her fingers over my lips, as she knew I couldn’t resist replying to her. I nipped the tips of her fingers, delighting in her giggle. ‘So, I should say thank you, Elmswood. Thank you for being my reason.’
Stopping, I pulled her towards me as the first raindrop hit my hand. I closed my eyes, wanting to imprint these moments in my soul. The moments when the fierce Sorrow Villente smirked, shy and nervous in my arms. When only I bore witness to Sorrow laid bare.
I tilted my head, my gaze fixed on those full, soft lips. The moment my mouth brushed hers, the wolf whimpered. I pressed harder before she pulled away.
‘Pablo?’ She crouched down, examining the wolf. He pawed the ground, ears back.
‘What is—’
Two diafols, as big and terrifying as kittens, tumbled onto the path, whining. I narrowed my gaze. Were they supposed to be scary? I’d seen more ferocious squirrels.
I knelt down, lay my hand out. ‘Hey, little ones. You lost?’
‘Matthias? What are you doing?’
I stood up as they snarled. One diafol bit the other and Pablo tugged Sorrow’s sleeve.
‘Look at them.’ I laughed as she squinted. The ground rolled. ‘Surely the big, brave Sorrow isn’t scared of a few little diafols?’
Her face paled as the ground shook. Pablo grabbed her hem, pulled her back, and I turned around.
‘No,’ she whispered. ‘But that one?’
The blood seeped from my face as the path trembled. A paw, dark, horribly tattered, landed on the ground, a plume of dust rising as a pair of huge bronze eyes loomed through the mustard cloud.
‘Fuck.’
Grasping Sorrow, we raced down the path, slipping in the slick puddles as the rain pounded. Were we ever going to get a break? My lungs burned and I gripped her tighter, wondering why Evella hated us so much.
The path sloped upwards and we dug in. The wolf remained behind her. Always ready to defend her as the diafol snarled.
‘Come on.’ Her hand almost slipped. I swore, reaching with my other hand as her jaw tightened, hauling her up, towards a ledge. It’d give us an advantage to fight once we got there.
Drawing my stolen sword, I turned, narrowing my gaze as the diafols snarled from below.
My chest heaving, I knelt down.
‘They’re not chasing us,’ I said.
‘They don’t have to.’ I turned back. Sorrow looked down the sloping side of the ledge, down to a crater, her eyes wide and lips paling further. My guts churned.
‘Should I ask why?’
She swallowed, pointed ahead. Standing next to my wife, the rain tearing across my vision, I followed the line of her hand.
I sheathed the sword, unsure how we’d survive.
‘You were right about one thing,’ I said, as I stared wide-eyed at the nest of writhing, slavering, shrieking diafols. There must have been two, three hundred, different shapes, sizes, levels of decay.
All apparently starved.
‘Evella seriously hates us.’