Chapter Nineteen
The next day, Adalyn looked at herself in the mirror and leaned closer to study her eyes, and discovered they were normal. No telltale ring of red around her pupil, confirming she hadn’t been turned into a vampire. Guess she had many years to discover all the powers of a dhampir.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Gareth asked.
“Yes.”
He reached for her hand and led the way out of the palace to where Elgene waited.
Her makeshift jail was located outside. They had to convert one of the gardener’s sheds since they actually didn’t have one, and King Zadicus didn’t want her in the palace.
Two guards were stationed by the shed. When Gareth nodded his head, one of them unlocked the door and Adalyn stepped inside.
Elgene was handcuffed to a post. Gone were her jewelry and fancy clothes. Her face was bare of makeup and her hair hung in limp strands around her face. An X was branded into her forehead, showing all she was disowned as a thrall.
“Why are you here?” she spat.
“To show you that you didn’t kill me.”
“You mean to rub it in my face.”
Adalyn gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Perhaps. I can be petty. Why did you keep pursuing Gareth? He wasn’t yours.”
“Fuck off. You’ll never understand the shitty situation I grew up in.”
So that was her motivation, Adalyn thought.
“Was it worse than having your sister sell you to a gang leader? Worse than his minions murdering the only friend who gave a damn about you? Lie to yourself all you want, but don’t pretend you did what you did for anything less than greed.”
Adalyn said her piece and it was done. She turned to leave, but Elgene halted her.
“I hate you.”
“And after today, I won’t even remember you. But you’ll never forget me.”
She was quiet as Gareth led her back to their room. Once inside, she took a deep breath.
“I won’t ever betray you,” she promised. “Even if you cast me aside, I will never turn into her.”
“I know,” he replied and pulled her into his arms to rest his cheek on top of her head. “I see the love in your eyes.”
“It matches the love in yours.”
She smiled and snuggled into his embrace.
The End