The Blood Forest: Book Three in the Tree of Ages Series by Roethle Sara C

Author:Roethle, Sara C
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vulture's Eye Publications
Published: 2017-04-04T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Bedelia tossed and turned in her bed, reliving the events of the previous night at the abandoned castle. Oddly, it had affected her more than the battle with the assassins, mainly because she thought it might soon put an end to her friendship with Finn. She’d aroused Iseult’s suspicions. It was the beginning of the end.

She wasn’t dense enough to believe that Iseult and Finn had been discussing anything but her when she’d found them outside, whispering in the dark. The whispers had abruptly ceased at her appearance, and Iseult had given her a look that said, I know what you’re up to, and soon everyone else will too.

She turned on her side and pressed a lumpy pillow over her head. Perhaps she was worrying for nothing. Sure, he was suspicious, but there was no way for him to know she worked for Keiren, and he likely didn’t even know Keiren still lived, if he even knew of her existence at all.

Bedelia didn’t know why she cared. She did work for Keiren, and she’d have to do her bidding one way or another. Her friendship with Finn would most definitely end at that point. Previously, she would have been fine with the idea of being cast back into Keiren’s waiting arms, but she truly believed those arms no longer waited for her. Keiren had stopped loving her for some reason, or perhaps she never really did to begin with. Perhaps she had been Keiren’s puppet all along.

“Of course I loved you,” a voice cut through her mind.

“K-keiren?” Bedelia stammered. Had she been listening to her thoughts all this time?

“Do not speak out loud,” Keiren’s voice snapped. “You know I am not truly there. Something still prevents me from seeing your friend.”

Bedelia took a shaky breath and sealed her eyes tightly shut. You can read my mind? she thought.

“Of course I can,” Keiren’s voice echoed back. “You swore a blood oath to me. You are mine.”

“Then you-” she cut herself off, realizing she was speaking out loud again, but it seemed she had said enough.

“Of course I knew,” Keiren replied. “I know how you have questioned me. How you have wondered if you could save your friend from me. I didn’t stop loving you. You stopped loving me.”

I did not, Bedelia thought. I have always obeyed you. Even when I felt morally opposed to my tasks.

“You simply didn’t want to be alone,” Keiren accused. “And now you think the girl can replace me. Just like my father thought she could replace me. It doesn’t matter now. You have betrayed me.”

Bedelia’s heart plummeted, but for the first time, the sinking feeling was answered not with despair, but with anger. She had devoted so much of her life to Keiren, only to be spurned for wanting a friend.

“Ah,” Keiren’s voice mused. “So you still have teeth after all?”

I do, Bedelia thought. So what will you do now? Turn me into a tree like you did your own father? Then do it. I do not care anymore.

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