Page 70 of Cryptic Dreams
“And you are acting like an asshole because you can’t accept the fact that you don’t know everything.”
My posture goes rigid, my eyes narrowed to slits. Shadows start to curl around the edges of the room as the temperature drops to a few degrees above freezing. The physical manifestation of my anger has the others in the room all taking a step away from us, retreating slowly in hopes they’ll avoid my wrath because they have all seen this happen before and it is never good.
Which is exactly why I decide right then and there I have been a fool. An ignorant fool clouded by lust, my judgment warped by love and finding my mate. Not only will she affect my ability to focus on my plan, my grand plan of leading the Uprising to overthrow our sorry, corrupt government and return things to the way they were before, Zephyr will be an even bigger target to not only them but any other enemies I acquire along the way. And I have lost sight of that. I put her in grave danger by accepting our bond as truth, painted a target on her pretty little head and forgot that while those things are terrifying, I myself am even more so. For all she has seen, the softer side blinded by love and the possibility of mating, Zephyr does not knowmeor what I am truly capable of. She does not know what kind of monster shares meals with her, what vile creature holds her hand and steals kisses from her innocent lips.
And now, because there is nothing I will not do for her, I need to show Zephyr what I am so that I can continue to protect her, protect her from outside threats as well as the one she shares a home with. She needs to see me for who I am so that she may run far away and never look back.
“Did you know I’m technically not an only child?” My voice is level, even.Menacing.
Zephyr blinks and takes a step back as I take a step toward her.
“No?” I grin. “Had no idea that the heir apparent had siblings?”
One curt shake of her head.
“Two sisters and a brother. One older, two younger, none born of Drusilla’s womb.” Another step forward. “Concubines of my father, bastard young in the eyes of the monarchy, but recognized nonetheless. Three more threats to Atticus’s crown.”
Zephyr swallows hard but doesn’t break eye contact.
“Phantasia and Spectra. Beautiful, fierce, would be ruthless in their pursuit of the throne if things had gone differently.” I stop directly in front of Zephyr, the toes of my Italian loafers touching her adorable little flats. “Demond was the oldest but was never given the chance to prove how he would have turned out. Do you know why that is,mate? Know why I am the last man standing?”
Zephyr shakes her head again as Orion steps toward her protectively. “Wraith… ”
My eyes snap to his and I growl, the shadows licking up the walls in inky blue flames. None of them know this, know of my half brother and sisters or how they met their untimely ends. It has been erased from our history, the only three with any knowledge that they existed being myself and my horrible parents.
“Drusilla drowned Demond when he was an infant. She was pregnant with me at the time, when she learned that the bastard son of my father’s favorite concubine was in fact his, and since she was concerned for my place as rightful heir, she eliminated my brother when he was but a babe.”
A single tear webs along my mate’s lower lashes, dancing there briefly before it rolls down her cheek and I’m too bloody mad, too bloody determined to keep her safe to care.
“Phantasia was a few years younger than I, Spectra the baby of us. We grew up together in our castle in Carmarthen, allowed to have relationships after Drusilla was severely punished for touching one of Atticus’s young.” The thought makes me laugh, an empty and hollow sound. “Until we were old enough to fully understand what our lives would entail, we were thick as thieves, the three of us close as siblings can get until the Species War broke out and alliances were formed.”
“Please… ” Zephyr whispers. “Please don’t—”
“Atticus ripped Spectra’s throat out right in front of me, her blood splattering against my face and chest as he did. She believed the way I do, followed me around like a shadow and when our sire began to suspect me even then and saw that she would do anything to help my cause, to support me and my beliefs no matter what they were or what they cost her, he ended her before she was ever a true threat.” My grin is evil, I can feel it. “But you know as well as I do, merely tearing out the throat does nothing to us. So, while my sweet baby sister lie broken at my feet, Atticus had me restrained with silver cuffs, then hogtied Spectra with silver chains and dragged her through the castle in a race to beat the sun before tossing her in the courtyard just as it began to rise. Then forced me towatch. He forced me to watch my sister scream and burn, writhe in agony as the sun you covet so dearly burnt her to nothing but ash.”
More tears now, ones I can’t decipher because I’m bordering on furious as my mate whispers, “Stop… ”
“In response, I kidnapped my sire’s favorite child, Phantasia, an extreme supporter of my father and the new way of life he was creating. I took her deep into the woods, hid us away in complete seclusion.” I bring my face close to Zephyr’s, our noses nearly touching. “And I hacked her to pieces. I happily dismembered my own flesh and blood then left the body parts as gifts for my sire to find, his dreams of control even after he stepped down, shattered. Shattered into thirteen gruesome pieces as a reminder that hispure bloodedson, theheir fucking apparent, was just as ruthless, just as heartless, and just as willing to do whatever it takes for his cause, consequences or blood be damned.”
My mate sobs quietly, her feelings and thoughts completely shielded, though she looks me in the eye still. I have to give her credit for that, just like I need to hammer the final nail in my own coffin.
“You are incredibly stupid to think Atticus is completely oblivious. Without proof? Perhaps. But even so, if he had caught wind of Hans or Randolph trying to go behind his back in any way, the High Elder wouldn’t think twice about executing either of them. He didn’t when it came to Spectra and he didn’t so much as frown over the loss of Demond and Phantasia. Atticus is as cold as they come, cares not for connections or perceived loyalties and it would do you good to remember that the apple does not fall far from the tree.”
It isn’t until now that I realize the others have gone, that is only four of us left in the room, and even still it barely registers. Zephyr and I just stare at each other, tears streaming down her cheeks, glittering amber eyes boring into mine. If that wasn’t enough to make her understand that she should not—can not—accept me as her mate, then I don’t know what will. I just silently pray to the Gods of Old it was enough to have her ready to pack her fucking bags.
“I want to go home,” she whispers.
Orion immediately wraps an arm around her shoulders and begins pulling her away from me. “We’ll take you.”
Thank fuck.
And before I do something stupid, like fall to my knees and beg this perfect creature to love me in spite of the bastard I am, I dematerialize out of the office straight to my house. My house that will feel empty, will feel more like a mausoleum without the warmth of my mate filling it.
But I meant it when I said I would do anything for her, anything to keep my precious mate safe. Even if it means revealing my true nature, hurting her, and ripping my own heart out in order to push her so far away from me I’ll be nothing but a ghost of a memory in her pretty little head.
Wraithindeed.
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