as a secret? Or do I confine myself to my sister? Fear kept me from opening my mouth for a few seconds. Not only did I want to
share this burden, but I desperately wanted to warn her. I wanted to protect her in case Dorian was looking at her as his next
target.
“It’s quite simple and a little boring actually. I felt dizzy and fainted. Lord Cole just happened to be the one I fainted on.”
I lied.
I didn’t know if I was fully ready to discuss these things. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to block out the images
and keep my cup from slipping in my now sweaty hands. Would I ever learn to block them out? Or would I forever live my life,
reliving those horrendous, ugly moments?
“Oh,” she paused, looking disappointed, “I thought it would be more exciting.”
“I’m fine by the way, thanks for asking,” I grumbled, trying to laugh the whole thing off as best as I could. “I am sorry to
disappoint you, nothing exciting happened.”
“Well, either way, Mother was looking for you before I came up here to find you. Where did you run off to anyways?”
Now I knew there was no way I could tell her about my shadow man. I would come across as a crazy person who needed
locking up. Placing my cup down, I wiped my hands against my dress and tucked some hair behind my ear.
“I just went for a walk in the woods, like I normally do. I know what I said to Gelda was a bit harsh, but I don’t want her
thinking she can be so informal with me or you.”
“Ornella, she may become queen one day so it would be good for us if she thinks of us as friends. But we both know Norok
may tire of her, especially if she doesn’t have this child. I love our brother,” she murmured, pausing to sip from her cup before
placing it down again. “But you and I both know what kind of Fae he is. He has wandering eyes and hands. If Gelda does give
him an heir, that still won’t stop him from taking a mistress. I expect it to happen, as does our mother.”
Would Norok do that to his wife, though? Even if he found out the child wasn’t his? I didn’t think he would cast her aside.
He’d already mentioned they were friends and if it meant keeping her safe, he would do that until his last breath.
“Mother has already started picking out future mistresses for him. Those that are the best at being discreet.”
Of course she was. That fact didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Norok was the golden child and could do no wrong in her
eyes.
“Dinner will be getting served soon. We should head downstairs and prepare,” I said, desperate to change the subject.
I finished my drink before standing, then headed towards the door. Talia grabbed hold of my wrist as I walked past her and
pulled me back.
“What’s that?” she asked, her eyes narrowed on my wrist.
Looking at my wrist then, she pointed to a mark on my skin. There, on the inside of my wrist was the shape of a crescent