Page 102 of In the Blood


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“My father reprimanded him once, when he caught him holding me down and putting flame to my face. I thought he was going to permanently disfigure me. Our father was so angry that he threatened to kill him if it ever happened again. Galen stopped bullying me after that. And I got stronger. The animosity between us has never really subsided. Sometimes we’re forced to work together, of course. I still hung around the castle for Louis’s sake. I didn’t want him to grow up with only Galen and Sylvia as influences, especially after our father died. Luckily, Galen has never seen Louis as a threat.”

Raf paused, taking a swig of a beer, before adding, “And then more recently… when you arrived… I began spending more time at the castle again.” He sighed.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“It’s been eighty years since then. I thought you might think I was just trying to find a way to get between you and Galen. But I watched over you from afar… I had to make sure he and Sylvia were treating you alright.

“I often take the form of a black cat in the castle… they don’t notice me, since there are cats everywhere. I followed you to the library… the day Sylvia brought you in for a meeting. I also spent some time as a crow, watching you train with Louis. I should’ve told you sooner.”

I thought of all the times I’d curled up with that black cat on my bed—how sad I’d been when it stopped visiting. And then I remembered… the cat had been there that day at the library when Raf had attacked Galen. That’s how he’d appeared so quickly. I sat speechless for a moment.

“I can’t believe that was you. I might die of embarrassment. Did I ever undress in front of you?” I asked through slitted lids.

“Don’t be embarrassed… I shouldn’t have invaded your privacy. I stopped visiting once you seemed to be doing fine without me. And no… you never undressed in front of me.” He couldn’t hold back a smirk. “But you did give excellent back scratches…”

My cheeks grew hot and I gave him a playful shove, suddenly feeling grateful for the dimly lit room. “Thank you, for watching over me, even when I didn’t deserve it.”

“Yes, you did.”

Our gazes met. There was so much depth behind his honey-glazed eyes. It was easy to get lost in them.

“I’m sorry—for what Galen did to you,” I said, putting my hand over his. “And that you had to watch me get close to him, knowing what you knew.”

“And I’m sorry that I wasted so much time distancing myself from you. I’m an idiot.” He fed me a piece of cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto. The emotion in his eyes mirrored the regret I felt. It was too late to go back in time and change the way things played out; we had to suffer the consequences. I’d be haunted by Galen forever… just as Rafael was.

“Whydidit take me so long to win you over?” I asked, nudging him.

He grew contemplative as he said, “I try to stay away from anything that Galen’s claimed ownership over. It’s easier that way.”

I wondered what else Galen had claimed in the last century. The throne was the first thing to come to mind. “How does succession typically work in faerie society? I know it’s assumed that Galen will take the throne, but who decides?”

“Usually it’s the eldest son, but if another sibling is magically stronger, they can make a claim for it,” he explained, growing dour. “I’ve never been interested in the throne. In fact, I’ve spent most of my life actively rebelling against anything having to do with it.”

His posture had been relaxed until I’d brought up the throne. Now he was sitting up straight, scowling at the fire. Did he feel unworthy? He was a born leader, though I admittedly hadn’t thought so when we’d first met.

He let Galen march around likehewas the strong one, the brave one, the kind one. And I’d been naive enough to fall for it.My body temperature dropped as another wave of bitter anger washed over me. If anyone was unworthy, it was me.

“Let’s figure out how we’re going to approach the witch tomorrow,” I said, needing to change the subject.

“I think we should try to flush her out of her lair.”

“How?”

He flashed a devilish grin. “You’re going to find your flames tomorrow.”

“You want me to flush her out withfire? Have you lost your mind?”

“And wind.”

“I can’t! You know that I don’t know how to wield fire.” I wouldn’t have an opportunity to practice if we were to leave before sunrise. He couldn’t expect me to channel a new element just because a book said I could.

“Your magic won’t challenge you in your unicorn form. I believe in you. And… if you can’t produce fire, we’ll improvise.”

I sighed, resigned. “Fine… I’ll try. But don’t get your hopes up. Either way, tomorrow we shall show the witch what happens when you try to snare a unicorn.” I spoke more confidently than I felt, but what other choice did I have? It was a death sentence to not face her. It was probably a death sentence either way. At least I’d have Raf by my side.

Once we’d both stuffed our faces, lying splayed out on the floor, bellies distended like two lazy leopards, Raf yawned and said, “We should go to bed. You need as much rest as possible before the Oracle. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

I made a snort of protest. “No way, this is your room. You can shift into a cat if you’re too chaste to sleep beside me in your faerie form.”