His body had been a welcomed protection from the elements, and she had foolishly believed that Glais could save her from the memory of the terrible things Barret had done. She had once been naïve enough to lean back against him, close her eyes and allow him to take the lead on their direction. Now there was no relaxation in Evangeline. Glais could not be considered welcoming either. After several seconds of daring herself to look back, she finally found the courage to do it.
Glais stared ahead, unblinking and his lips a thin line on his face. The stern, yet emotionless, expression should have calmed her some, but Evangeline could only feel her skin crawl. Looking up, she witnessed Glais suddenly looked down at her. The abrupt turning of his head that made her gasp but Evangeline could not break the intense eye contact he gave her. She knew that Glais was good at hiding his own emotions from the world. It had been their only interaction for so long and yet this was beyond that. Glais appeared broken and unapproachable in ways Evangeline had never witnessed before. He was a shell, and for now, no cracks appeared but how long could Glais maintain this pose was a question Evangeline found herself wondering.
He was fighting his emotions, and Evangeline knew she was to blame for that. What Glais was hiding from her was that he was also fighting his demonic craving. It clawed at him from the inside. Tiny hands ripped down either side of his throat as it attempted to make an escape into the world. Glais held his lips tighter together and urged Indris on even though she was tired. He would not stop. Glais knew that stopping would mean hurting Evangeline. He was barely keeping in full control of himself now. The distractions were not working as they once had.
Evangeline watched as his jaw unclenched just a little before reforming the tight seal once more. She swallowed hard and went back to looking out into the landscape. Each minute they drew closer to the castle. Indris was slowing, a gradual fact that Evangeline had been ignoring for the longest time but was obvious now. She knew the animal was tired, but she could not feel empathy when she felt like her life was in question. Indris slowed to a trot, no longer able to keep up with the demands of Glais. He pressed his heels deep into her sides, but there was no convincing her to go faster. Glais wondered how long he could keep her at this trot before she slowed further to a walk.
Glais was trying his best not to notice Evangeline, but it seemed like she was more aware of him than she had ever been in the past. Both were doing their best to pretend they were not watching the other, which only made Evangeline all the more aware of all that Glais was doing. He cleared his throat, and Evangeline shivered. He felt her pulse rise, the building strain breaking through their tension and giving her body reactions she could not hope to control.
Glais wished he could talk to her, but every breath was worse than the one before. Blood was rising to the surface of her skin, her cheeks flushing red first but the colour was spreading. Sitting so close he could taste the residue in the air. He could not be blamed for taking longer and deeper breaths in some attempt to steal the minuscule droplets of blood from the air. Glais knew this was a tease for the senses rather than a feast, but regardless of the dangerous situation he was creating within his own body, Glais continued to breathe in the scent of her. He was losing his mind and his control.
Never had he felt such things or indulged in imagining terrible ways of devouring a person. He would blink and feel her under his hands. Glais’ lips pulled back in a snarl that exposed his teeth, and Evangeline would reach out for him time and time again. Claw marks raked her skin and exposed muscles stained the bed crimson with her blood. Glais would relish the moment, tasting blood on his tongue, feel it settling on his core, and bloodied fingerprints decorated his exposed skin.
Glais closed his eyes, forcing those images down, far too certain they were real and praying to Xado for the strength to keep them as fantasy. It sickened and aroused him in the same heartbeat, a confused emotion that had plagued him since he was a young boy.
Barely one fantasy would simmer down before a new one took its place. This time, Evangeline sat before him, a delicate blade in her hand. Glais could see her in the fading daylight pushing on her back. The skirts of her dress pulled high on her leg and showing off the flesh of her thigh. Delicately the blade would sink into her skin. Glais’ surprise there was no sound of pain, but instead, a sigh of pleasure came with the incision she had made against herself. The blood welled for a moment around the point of the blade before sliding down her porcelain skin. Glais latched onto the wound like a baby to its mothers’ breast. His tongue penetrated the cut, forcing it wider. Evangeline’s hand found his hair, calling his name as he fed freely from her offering.
Glais was shaken from his subconscious to find the motion had been real. Evangeline held him firmly by the hair, using her strength at this odd angle to keep him from striking her. Glais was suddenly aware that his hands no longer held the horse’s reins but held Evangeline instead. Her skirts had been lifted, and his hand had been on the milky skin of her thigh, the other on the side of her neck. He could see from the light blossoming of colour in her skin that she would be bruised in a few hours from this subconscious attack. Glais was embarrassed that he was the sole cause. It was unbelievable that she had managed to keep him from biting down on the prize his body craved.
Instantly he released her, Indris slowing to a walk but neither Glais or Evangeline seemed to notice the horse or its actions now. Evangeline watched Glais with a fear he echoed back.
“How much of that was you?” she asked, her voice a quiet whisper that Glais wasn’t sure if he had heard her at all.
“None of it.” Glais could not lie, and he wished he could have because that was not the answer that Evangeline wanted to hear. He hated admitting the smallest of failures to her. To admit he could not control his own decisions was not a conversation he ever wanted to have.
She nodded but did not turn her back on him. Her worst fears were confirmed that Glais was losing what little humanity he had. “How bad is it?” she asked.
Glais shook his head. “I’ll be fine.” He insisted.
Evangeline looked up at her husband, saw the struggle and could only feel disgusted for this man she was tied to. “But will I?” She asked, and for that Glais had no answer. He could promise her all the beautiful words he could think of it, but the truth sat between them. The bruises on her neck becoming more apparent with every closing minute to Glais, and there was nothing to be done for it now. Evan an apology would be weak.
Slowly she reached for her hair. The dark curtain was pulled aside, and her neck was exposed. Glais shook his head, but his lips parted at the offering. Evangeline’s expression did not change. Glais saw her eyes had lost their light, her vision now to the distance and no longer at him. Evangeline was resigned to her fate, prepared to sacrifice herself for him. He knew this was not a gift. Glais would never confuse this action with one of kindness, or even duty. Evangeline was sacrificing herself and hoped it would be enough that she would live through it.
The back of his hand slid over her neck. He had expected some kind of response from her. Not the kind he fantasised about, but a shiver, or even pulling away from his grasp but Evangeline might as well have been a statue. She did nothing as Glais found his grip. His fingers sprayed out over the pale expanse of her offered throat. Thumb on one side, his index finger slid along her jaw towards Evangeline’s mouth and framed the point he would strike. Before he could grip her steady, he heard the horn of Braykith cut through the trees.
Whatever magic Evangeline had cast was broken with the simple interruption and Glais released her. Within moments he saw his own men, and as soon as Thomas broke through the tree line, Evangeline escaped from Glais’ horse and into the other man’s arms. Glais was slower to dismount Indris, but his eyes did not leave Thomas’. Glais did not want to hate him, but it seemed impossible to find favour with the man who had laid claim to his wife.
Thomas was frozen, an arm going protectively but politely around Evangeline as she tossed
herself to him. He was waiting for Glais to make demands. Firstly, for Thomas to be beheaded for bedding Evangeline. Perhaps some kind of torture or public embarrassment would be in order before the final act which would mean his death. Thomas would be the first to admit that Glais was within his right to these fears a reality. Glais had quietly suffered, but this was a public display that could cause upset in the royal house.
Evangeline had not been thinking in her mad dash, and some of the soldiers in his company had noticed the strange way Evangeline had fled Glais. Thomas felt that the only reason Glais was so controlled now was because they had witnesses. Above all else, the image of the crown needed to be retained at any cost, and it might be the only reason Thomas was left standing now.
“Lady Evangeline is so relieved to see our own people,” Glais said. Thomas noticed his voice was strained, but he said nothing to draw further notice to it. “There is deep trouble in Crimah.” Glais switched to the role of Prince, and Thomas stood straighter as he was addressed. “I must see my father and organise a rescue.”
Evangeline held herself to Thomas, ignoring Glais as he attempted to smooth over the rustling among the soldiers. She kept her face buried in the soft fabric of his uniform. She was deliberately hiding her face from Glais. Thomas was curious about what kind of scene had he just walked into, but he dared not to ask what had occurred here in the woods. “My Grace, he was last in the throne room,” Thomas answered with as much power as he dared to say.
Glais could only nod. “Give me your horse.” Glais gestured to the man who stood closest to him and was instantly obeyed. “Be careful with Evangeline.” At the sound of her name, she finally looked towards Glais, but Evangeline was firmly staying within Thomas’ arms. “She needs a meal and to rest. Have Wick run her bath.” Glais faltered, the barest of missteps that very few would notice.
He took Evangeline’s chin gently in his fingertips and laid the softest of kisses to her lips. Evangeline barely responded, and Glais would not push her further. They needed this for the guards. He trusted his guards to gossip, to spread the story of the frightened Evangeline and the strong Glais who delivered her to safety and not the truth. He would never forget the lost and disappointed look on Evangeline’s face or the hate that filled his own guts as he had been prepared to bite her.
“I will come find you before any actions are made,” Glais whispered, and Evangeline nodded, but there was no power to her actions. She could not be sure what was an act and what as accurate, but Glais was too close to her now. She needed space. Unable to push him away, Evangeline was glad that he turned and left her on his own accord. Evangeline listened as Glais took the new mount and headed off to the castle with all of the speed of a well-rested Braykith horse. She wished she could have escaped just as fast. However, her feet were unsteady, and Thomas was all that kept her from falling.
“Take me home Thomas.” Evangeline whimpered, clearing her throat gently before she tried to speak again. “I need…” But words failed her. Evangeline did not know what she needed.
Thomas understood. “Of course my Lady.” Was what he said. He kept all of his questions to himself.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The ride had been silent, and Evangeline had to directed towards her own room several times as they walked the corridors of the castle. She felt dizzy and confused even though the castle was now familiar to her. He opened the door for her, and she stayed for a moment trying to collect her thoughts and terminate her desires. Evangeline intended to dismiss Thomas as soon as they came to her chambers. She knew that it was madness, but instead of sending him away, she beckoned Thomas to follow in after her. The room was deserted, although Evangeline did not think it would remain that way for long. She knew that Wick would demand to take care of her, and along with that would come the cold eyes that gave no hints to what Wick was thinking.
Evangeline shuddered at just the thoughts of being alone with her servant after all that had come to pass. A dizzy spell hit her, a combination of fatigue and not eating. She barely started to say his name to get his attention when Thomas caught her. She landed heavily on him but to his credit he did not drop her to the floor as she feared could happen. She closed her eyes, but the dizziness did not stop. She was forced to focus instead, and with that came the draining memories of the past.
“Eva, are you ok?” Thomas asked. He looked at her neck first, inherently fearful that Glais had drunk from her, and taken too much. The way she was acting, Thomas believed he had seen the symptoms before however there were no signs of puncture marks on her throat or her wrists. Looking for those tell-tale marks had given him pause to the marks that were decorating her body. Dirt and grass stains on her clothes that he had not been focused on before were suddenly obvious. He took her hands in his and lightly ran his hand over the red marks where the rubbing around her wrists had faded but was still there if someone cared to look closely.
Evangeline stayed still as Thomas assessed her, finally coming upon the bruising on her face and hand marks on her throat. He swallowed hard, trying to keep the anger from his voice because it was not Evangeline he was mad at. “He did this to you?” Thomas demanded.
Evangeline shook her head. Moments of the events swirled in and out of focus, making it harder for her to explain because she felt the need to cry and vomit all while sleep threatened to claim her. She was tired in all ways, and Thomas was angry. She swallowed hard, feeling tears prick at the corner of her eyes. “It isn’t what you think.” She protested weakly, still in his arms and unable to stand on her own.
“And what should I think? That you asked for this?” Thomas was stuck holding her, and it made it harder for him to remain calm with a hate brewing inside him.
“It was not Glais.” She tried again, her eyes closing but she forced them open.
“The monster and Glais are the same man.” Thomas countered quickly. These were thoughts he had been hiding for a long time and finally had the freedom to speak them without fear of repercussions since he knew Evangeline shared the belief.
She pushed herself out of Thomas’ grip. Evangeline was unsteady, but when Thomas reached for her, she slapped his hands away. Her reaction was slow, and her intent lost as the slaps turned out to be almost nothing against his wrists as Thomas held her firmly upright. “It was not Glais.” She tried again, wiping at her cheek and seeing the red marks. Her eyes only seemed to be able to focus on the violations that had been made against her. “Barret did this.”
“Your father?” Thomas was stunned and only believed it when Evangeline collapsed into herself, tears falling freely and no other sound seemed to escape her. He took to the floor beside her, attempting to comfort Evangeline but it all seemed so pathetic when compared to her obvious pain. There was nothing Thomas could do, but he felt an urge to try. “Eva please, speak to me.” He begged her.
Evangeline could not find breath and stayed silently weeping with Thomas by her side. She sat like a heap, leaning into his shoulder and wrapping Glais’ coat more firmly around her herself but there was no protection from the thoughts of her own mind. “He meant to kill him. I could see it in his eyes, Thomas. Glais would have killed him if I had not been there to stop it.”
Thomas did not think it was a terrible idea, but he could not be sure how Evangeline would react to such a response. “Start from the beginning.” He prompted her, wanting the full story.
Evangeline did not want to start. If she started, Evangeline was afraid she could never stop but as the silence came between them, Thomas waiting for her to speak, Evangeline knew that if there was one person she could trust with all her secrets it was the man who sat with her now. “It is a very long story.” She warned him.
“That’s ok.” Thomas kissed her hair and waited for her to find the right words.
“I am not human.” She said, and looked away from Thomas so he could not interrupt and she would not see the look of doubt in his eyes. “My mother was desperate for a child, and she made deals with the
Dryads to give me a life. It was a betrayal my father never could forgive.” She took a breath in an effort to control herself and prepare for the rest of the story. “He always treated me differently to Darius, and I never understood why. I had guessed it was because I was a girl, or maybe he didn’t want to get too close because he knew someday I would leave and come here.” She shrugged, knowing her childish reasoning sounded pathetic.
“I know now that the truth was he never could see me as his own daughter.” Thomas tried to interrupt. Evangeline felt him move and his mouth open but she ignored him. “I did not imagine it, Thomas. He told me.” Thomas shut his mouth quick enough to hear teeth hitting teeth. “Just before the wedding, when he came to visit me I begged him to take me away. And he told me this was the best I could ever hope for and that he was glad to finally be rid of me.”
Thomas could not imagine ever being told such hurtful things by the person who was supposed to protect you. “What happened when you returned to Crimah with Glais?” he asked her.
“My father has turned manic. Paranoid of shadows and telling Darius and me both how he thinks Quintus plans to take Crimah from him. He blames everyone but himself for the mess that had befallen my once beautiful home.” Feeling less emotional, Evangeline sat up a little straighter on her own. She was still trying to make sense of all that had come to pass, but she didn’t need Thomas to keep her from falling. “Everyone is in hiding Thomas. There are no people to work the farms. No children playing carelessly on the paths or climbing trees. They stay in their houses and watch the manor for signs that everything is going to be ok.”
Delusions of Loyalty (The Braykith Series Book 2) Page 12
