Page 32 of Of Blood and Roses

Jaime continued anyway. “If you think you’re really going to throw Elyse in prison when this is all over, think again. I’m going to find a way to get her out of this arrangement.”

Killian’s mild amusement had quickly faded and been replaced by aggravation. He put on his most intimidating expression, the one he had honed through hundreds of interrogations, and leaned closer to Jaime until their faces were mere inches from one another.

“Try me,” he growled. “She made her decision. She’d rather turn herself in and face what she’s done than spend anymore time locked up here as your prisoner.”

Jaime’s eye twitched, and Killian knew he had struck a nerve. He returned Jaime’s glare for a moment longer before turning and shoving his way out the door.

Manny gawked at Killian as he strode past him down the walkway. “Everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine,” Killian said, not bothering to slow down.

Chapter 21

- Elyse -

Time seemed to drag on as Elyse waited for Jaime’s return. The sun crawled across the sky, beating in through the window, its angles shifting in languid motions. Elyse pored over the books she had designated for herself, finishing them all by the afternoon. She’d scoured the shelves for anything else that might help them, but they’d already done a good job of picking out anything relevant. Maybe Manny was having better luck going through the royal library at the palace.

As the sun ducked behind the trees, Elyse was surprised to hear a knock at the front door. She knew from the cadence of the knock that her visitor was friendly, but she still opened the door nervously.

Sera stood on the porch, looking as extravagant as ever in a lilac sundress that complemented her purple eyes. “Screw Jaime,” she said with a smile. “I thought you might want to talk privately.”

Elyse had never been more grateful for her friend. She was about to invite Sera in when the seer gestured with her chin.

“Let’s take a walk?”

Grinning, Elyse darted out the door, not bothering to put on any shoes. She wanted to feel the grass beneath her bare feet, just as she had done so many times in the forest around her cottage. She wanted to feel normal, even if it was only for an evening.

They made their way to the back of the estate and down the hill toward the lake. Wind rippled across the water, more vigorously than usual. A storm was brewing, but for now the skies were clear.

“So are my suspicions correct?” Sera asked as the women trailed arm-in-arm beside the lake. “Was King Cyril’s death one of the rituals needed to bring the demon to life?”

Elyse nodded, unable to confirm it aloud. Hearing Sera say the words was troubling enough. How could she have been stupid enough to let Lazarus manipulate her? She had thought of nothing else since. She should have fought harder to defy his orders—should have outright refused, whatever the consequences.

“You know you’re not to blame, right?” Sera stated, as if the facts were plain. “You didn’t know what Lazarus was planning. You tried to disobey him before. The punishment would’ve been worse than the action itself.”

Elyse shook her head. “I can’t help but think that if I hadn’t killed King Cyril, then maybe all those people in Prestowne might still be alive.”

That was the worst part of it. The book made it clear that the rituals had to be conducted in order. If she had found some way to stall or even prevent King Cyril’s death, then the massacre at Prestowne never would have happened.

Sera pulled Elyse to an abrupt stop. “You can’t think like that. You are bound to him, Elyse. There’s no escaping his commands.”

Elyse couldn’t bring herself to meet her friend’s eyes. It was true, she was bound to Lazarus—perhaps even in ways she didn’t want to consider. Elyse never had a choice in the matter, having been born into his servitude. But her mother… Her mother had sold her own soul to Lazarus.

Maybe that was the true source of all Elyse’s anguish. Deep down, Elyse knew that everything started with her mother. All of the deaths, all of the pain, every single full moon ritual was because of her and her desperation. If her mother had never made that deal, then Killian would still be in the Royal Guard, and she wouldn’t have shattered his world.

But part of her knew that Sera was right. There was no point in thinking about what might have been. Besides, Lazarus had other servants to do his bidding. Even if she hadn’t killed King Cyril, someone else would have, and Prestowne would have inevitably followed.

Elyse slowly started walking again, Sera by her side. They stayed quiet as Elyse watched the water lap up against the rocky shoreline, letting its rhythm soothe her.

“You should tell them, you know,” Sera murmured. “Killian and Manny—you should tell them that you’re personally connected to this.”

Elyse looked at Sera like she was mad. “I can’t—They’d never understand.”

Sera’s reply was much calmer. “I assure you Manny will understand. And I think Killian is more sympathetic than you give him credit for.”

Elyse bit her lip as she considered. Killian had been aloof during their time researching—not that being standoffish was a far reach from his normal self. Still, he’d been amicable enough, not trying to antagonize her. The last time she’d seen him, he’d even addressed her directly—a simple action that had made butterflies stir in her stomach. But what would he think if he knew it wasn’t just any demon responsible for Prestowne, but her demon. What if he knew that Elyse lay awake at night worrying that Lazarus was her father, and that she was part demon? There was no way in hell’s seven circles that Killian would understand any of that.

“I’ll think about it,” she told Sera quietly, eager to be done with the conversation.