The Oath of Blood and Roses by C. M. Hano

Author:C. M. Hano [Hano, C. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC009070 FICTION / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2023-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

“Wake up, my flower.” Mother’s voice was strained, and boney fingers ran along my cheek, sending ice through my veins. “It’s time for another lesson.” My eyes fluttered open. The room is pitch black, with a smell of iron, and has the faintest ambiance glowing in the light of two torches mounted to the wall. The leather straps across my chest, torso, and waist were no longer brown. They were now stained crimson. Mother was dressed in a violet gown, tight at the torso, but flowing at the skirts. Her hair was double braided atop her head, pinned with her golden crown adorned with violet gems in a bizarre design. Those bright blue eyes gleamed with anticipation as she warmed her blade over the fire.

“What did I do this time, Mother?” My voice was weaker than normal. I couldn’t understand why.

“Do you know what an empath is?” What was she talking about? The fumes must be getting to her.

“Like a druid? They are all extinct, along with all the magic of the past.” I heard a clicking of her tongue. Striding toward me, more like prowling as stealthy as a wild cat hunting a mouse. She gripped my chin with sharp, pointed fingernails.

“You know nothing, my sweet flower. But someday, even I won’t be able to protect you from what you will inevitably become.”

My eyes fluttered open, two strong arms wrapped tightly around me, and a hard, bare male chest pressed into my back.

“Are you okay?” He was awake? But of course, he was. Every time I have a nightmare, I wake him. I haven’t had one in a couple of days, and it was nice considering I used to have them every night. Reliving my torture over and over. I had to double the cosmetics to hide the forever shadows under my eyes.

Turning over to face him, I pressed my lips softly to his.

“I am now,” I said onto his lips. I felt safe in his arms. Then the realization of whose bed we were sleeping in hit me. Sitting straight up, breaking his loose hold on me, I took in the room before me. A large canopy bed with four wooden posts with three violet-colored curtains tied back surrounded us. The silken sheets matched, with embellishments of gold, showing the wealth of the kingdom.

One balcony, with floor-to-ceiling window doors, looked out into the woods where we had entered yesterday. There was a stone fireplace, with two crimson settees, a tea table, and then a bathing chamber with a porcelain tub. It was very lavish. Something home would never be able to compete with.

After the queen and I made our deal, she showed me to the guest quarters, and of course, like I suspected, Cal never left the outside of the throne hall doors. But neither did Lord Rowland. It appeared as if they were staring each other down when we exited. Only snapping their gazes to acknowledge us.

“Are you two all right?” I asked, and they both cleared their throats, mumbling an incoherent response.

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