The Secrets Shadows Keep (Suffer a Witch to Reign Book 2) by D.H. Dawson

Author:D.H. Dawson [Dawson, D.H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Carmen

Ares and I part. He goes to organise packs for our trip to the Tree of Life—and sadly, to order Ryan to stay here. I need someone I can trust to stay with Tiberius, Hara and Gilah. I worry about them. I watch him leave my chambers with a little heat in my cheeks that, clearly, has nothing to do with the fire still glowing in my room. The blue embers gnaw on the remains of the roses and their stems. The fire that doesn’t burn me.

I think I’m going to have to get used to doing things I dread. It seems like it will always be that way, as a princess. Right now, my stomach is in dreadful knots at the thought of asking Cristian to accompany us. I wash my face and re-braid my own hair. It’s been an awfully long night, and I push the worry out of my head: How well will I journey through unknown realms when I’ve had no sleep? I can’t think on that just now.

The first thing I do is go with my family to reinforce the boundary. In the earlier hours of the day, not too many people see—perhaps that’s best, so they don’t worry why we have to do this. Gilah is obviously absent. This time, Tiberius and Hara join us, though they’re young, and they’re powers aren’t yet strong.

I watch Father gaze up at the boundary, more solid-looking than before, and he nods in approval. I take that as leave. I have things to do.

I go to Matthew in the library. He’s behind the counter. As I walk in, I don’t announce myself. I find the best, most honest way to look at someone is before they notice I’m there. Before their backs straighten, or they bow to their princess. I want to look at how they’re really feeling.

Matthew moves slowly. He’s wearing his usual clothes: tan pants, off-white shirt under a faded-green waistcoat which still brings out the hue of his eyes. He looks drawn and tired, much more than I, and as he turns to shelve a book, the way the sunlight catches his face, highlights the hollows of his cheeks, slim and stretched. Guilt boils inside me. I can’t take this. I’m going to have to do what Hades suggested. I’ll be of no use to my people if I can’t control my powers. I only hope the rations will be enough to keep everyone alive for now. But Matthew will be with me. I will keep him safe.

As the thought runs through my mind, Matthew turns, and the change washes over him. He stills, like a cat faced with a boar, then smiles slightly, bowing. I’m starting to wish the people I care for wouldn’t freeze when they saw me. That I could take away that moment of fear and panic. Matthew is taut, his shoulders rigid. As I approach the counter, I notice his hands are shaking before he snaps them behind his back.

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