Silver Tongue by Gabrielle R Herd

Author:Gabrielle R Herd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Peopleplanetprofit Pty Ltd
Published: 2022-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Bastian Amulet

Time seemed to slow around her, and as she dunked the cloth back into the bowl of water, she swore she saw stars at the corners of her vision. The room was closing in on her, becoming smaller, tighter, and there wasn’t enough air to breathe into her lungs. She gripped the edges of the bowl, the cloth forgotten, drifting in the water that was stained black by the Akriel’s blood.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she managed.

Ceridwen gave the bowl one last squeeze, closing her eyes briefly, before releasing it. She squeezed some of the water from the cloth before scrubbing at her skin. The Akriel’s blood, dry and flaking, was stubborn. Already she could see a red mark blooming on her skin. She focused on the pain of the rough fabric against her skin, again and again and again. Savoured it like a lover did a kiss.

“Who?” Yvaine demanded.

She heard the creak of a bed post behind her and glanced over her shoulder. Yvaine had shifted back on her cot, her back now resting on the wall. She was looking between them with narrowed brows.

“Bastian Amulet.” Genevieve crossed her arms, her voice lowering an octave. “He’s doing well. A lot better than when you left, all things considered.”

Ceridwen turned away, her lips set in a fine line.

“This is the first I’m hearing of it,” Yvaine said. “What does this Bastian do, then?”

Through the vanity mirror, Ceridwen watched Yvaine lean forward, bracing her elbows on her crossed legs, her chin resting on both fists.

A smirk played on Genevieve’s lips and Ceridwen’s stomach dropped. As she opened her mouth, Ceridwen quickly said, “He infuriates me, that’s what he does.”

Amusement danced in Yvaine’s eyes, and Ceridwen winced.

“I mean-”

“A lovers spat,” Genevieve chuckled. “Five years later and he still gets your panties in a twist.”

Yvaine slapped a hand over her mouth, muffled giggles escaping past her slender fingers.

“I like her,” she announced with a broad smile.

Ceridwen ignored them both and dumped the cloth back into the water. She watched the flakes of dried blood disperse and her nose wrinkled as that horrid rotten stench filled the space around her. She would need to open the balcony doors and let in some fresh air or else they’d suffocate. No doubt Genevieve could smell it too, but she hadn’t asked why the rotted blood coated her skin and she hoped she wouldn’t.

If Yvaine hadn’t been in the room, Ceridwen would’ve been upon Genevieve in a second - maybe even less than that - the moment her eyes landed on her, wearing the dragon skull on her head of all things, as if years hadn’t passed, and she knew it.

Despite her taunting remarks, Genevieve knew the history between her and Bastian. Goddesses above, even thinking his name sent her hands trembling. Ceridwen was unsure if Genevieve made the comments to lighten the mood or because Bastian asked her to. Her instincts told her it was the latter.

But she’d been right, Goddesses be damned.

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