Page 34 of A Curse So Vile
Cole felt hollowed by the revelation.
“Why even go back? Why not make a life for ourselves somewhere else?” He took her hand in his, kissing her knuckles. “I can serve you well here or anywhere you might desire to roam.”
“I’ll be honest. The next few weeks will be difficult for Fiona, and she deserves to have the pack help her through her transition. Besides, I don’t run from my mistakes or my choices.” She turned away, prying her hand from his grasp. “I enjoyed your company last night, but I’m afraid I’ll be spending the rest of the day alone. Keep an eye on Fiona for me. Feed her well. If anything unusual happens, come get me. Otherwise, I’ll come to you tomorrow.”
His heart sank, but he dared not bother her further. Perhaps it was bold to hope they’d spend the day in bed together.
Again, he wondered about the consequences. Whatever they tried to put on her, he’d bear the burden gladly. But her curse was another matter. Hopefully, sometime soon, she would divulge more of her secrets.
“Please leave,” Brenna said curtly.
He got up from the floor and stood awkwardly before her. “If you need me—”
“I know where you’ll be.”
Before closing the door, he looked back one last time at Brenna, who was gazing out the window. Hopefully, as they spent more time together, she’ll grow to long for him as he did her, but for now, he’d settle for tending to Fiona. If Brenna spoke truly, she’d need food soon. Lots of food.
* * *
BRENNA
The door closed, and Brenna finally broke. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she fell against the windowpane.
There was no hope for her. Her fate was sealed. Even if she managed to shed her curse, her own people would sentence her to death for bestowing their gifts on Fiona.
Maybe I should take Cole up on his offer and make a life in the Heartlands or somewhere else.
As much as she liked the idea, it was folly. She broke the code, and she was no craven. She would face her judgment and Fiona would be around people that could help her transition, which she would need.
She didn’t want to think of what her goodbyes would be like. She didn’t want to think of her mother’s forlorn face, or the looks her friends would give her.
Elric had been away when she’d left, chasing after Tamia. Maybe she’d be spared his pain.
Why did I have to think of Elric?She sighed, trying to push her one time lover from her mind.
Long ago, Brenna and Elric had decided they would be life mates. They were young then, just children and best friends. Then, at ten, she had been cursed. She remembered it like it was yesterday, entering the musky tent of the crone that had promised to read her fortune.
She was so sure she was going to marry Elric, and the crone had laughed at her innocent nature, telling her he was meant for another. A woman with hair the color of fire.
She’d gotten mad, as she was wont to do, and she grabbed at the oddities lining the tent, smashing them on the ground. The crone didn’t move. She merely smirked.
At the time, Brenna thought her odd, but it didn’t deter her from her chaotic rage. When Brenna was done, the crone took her by the wrist, showing impossible strength. Brenna still remembered her putrid smell filling her nostrils.
She was stupid enough to cast one last insult before the crone said, ”You have but thirteen years—unlucky thirteen. On your twenty-third birthday, under the light of the blood moon, you will join your ancestors.”
After that, she passed out and awoke the next day with the crone’s words ringing in her ears.
Soon thereafter, she began to shift years before she was meant to, as first transition often happened for a woman when they achieved their first blood, to add to the burden, her shifts were far more extreme than those in her pack, akin to those with purer blood than she had. Her own mother was known for being weak due to her grandmother’s Cresite Terras blood, so Brenna shifting so early and powerfully was an anomaly.
It wasn’t until she mulled over the crone’s words that she understood what was happening. That she was cursed.
And her life was turning into a nightmare.
She knew what the witch meant by joining her ancestors. Her ancestors were not human at all. They were something else entirely, wholly savage in nature. They didn’t even have a human form. They were feral, and if her kind came across one now, they’d put them down, because they have no place in this world.
And now, in just a week, Brenna would join them, becoming an animal.
She told no one, and people often assumed she had just been gifted with greater Denithian blood than what was expected. Not wanting to cause unnecessary grief, she grew cold with Elric, as just looking at him caused her pain.