Page 47 of City of Promise and Light (Mates of Gods and Fae #1)

A growl from Ambrose was my only warning before he grasped my face tightly in his hand, the force making me whimper.

I slid my gaze up, meeting the blue fire in his eyes, and I wanted to cower and hide away from him.

“It’s not that hard, Sybil. Picture a dagger in your mind’s eye and form it.

Don’t think about anything else. Not your emotions, not your surroundings. Just the dagger. Form it. Now!”

Letting out a quivering breath, I focused on my magic again, letting it slowly illuminate into a sharp dagger.

It felt warm and heavy in my hands, but the pain began to edge away.

Ambrose curled his lips in a dark smile, moving my hand along the dagger until it wrapped around the hilt.

Placing my other hand on top, he led me closer to Arbus, now pleading with every inch of his life.

I choked on a sob, every step closer lessened the pain, replacing it with nausea and vicious self-reproach.

My heart pounded against my chest, my horror growing from the ever-closing distance between Arbus and me.

Tears fell heavily down our faces, but our eyes never broke away.

The way he looked at me was so full of understanding, like he knew how hard I fought against the bargain, against Ambrose, and I faltered, hating that look.

Stepping between Arbus’ legs, Ambrose placed my dagger against Arbus’ throat, the heat of my light reddening his skin.

Arbus gave up his pleading, accepting his fate while my mind and heart thrashed against it.

I wavered, but was met with another slice of pain through my heart that left me breathless.

Ambrose stepped behind me, curving his body around mine.

I could feel his hot, repulsive breath along my ear and neck.

With his hands still wrapped around mine, he pushed the dagger through Arbus’s throat.

The sickening sound, the feel of piercing skin and cartilage echoed through my mind.

I wept, apologizing to Arbus, repeating it over and over as the light faded from his eyes, still filled with quiet understanding.

But I didn’t understand, not as Ambrose waited, blood pouring over our hands. Not as Arbus’s body went slack against the chair, his chest no longer moving. Not even as Ambrose unwrapped his hand from mine, stepping beside me, my light dissipating along with the heat of his body.

“Good girl,” Ambrose said happily, stroking his bloodied knuckle along my cheek, leaving a smear of blood behind. “That wasn’t so bad, right? One rat gone, and now we can focus on ridding ourselves of the other pests.”

I wept, studying every part of Arbus through blurry tears, wanting—hoping—to memorize everything about him. I didn’t want to forget his beautiful face, not even a single moment as life left those eyes that reminded me so much of green leaves blowing in the wind.

My gaze moved further down his chest, narrowing on the glint of silver just above his shirt.

I hadn’t noticed the necklace earlier, but now I reached my hand out, lifting it from under his shirt.

A simple silver ring rested on the delicate chain, the edges round and smooth.

Grabbing the thin chain, I raised it over his head, gathering it into the center of my palm before curling my hand into a fist around it.

Ambrose came up behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

I flinched under his touch and forced myself to turn toward him.

He patted my cheek, giving me a smile that made me sick to my stomach.

“That’s all I need you for today, my dear girl.

Evander,” he waved toward the entrance of the cell, “will take you back to your room. I’ll send Samian to you once he returns with your next orders. ”

I looked over at Evander. His skin was pale, but whether that was from what he saw or if he was always pale, I didn’t know.

Not as he kept his face carefully blank, his gaze focused on the wall behind me, refusing to look at any of us in the cell.

Evander bowed slightly, then turned, making his way to my room.

I watched him leave the cell, my legs and body feeling like they were made of stone.

My heart slowed, and the room seemed to tunnel around me.

The weight of what just happened slowly pulled me inward.

Ambrose let out a breath, his annoyance flaring, and pushed me toward where Evander had stood, forcing my legs to move.

I felt detached, not fully a part of this world. I silently followed Evander out of the dungeon, all the way to the door of my room, but I didn’t see or feel anything.

Evander gave me another small bow, leaving me alone in the hallway.

I stared blankly at my door. I wasn’t even sure I was breathing until the chain of the necklace pinched my skin.

I gasped at the small, sharp pain and opened my hand.

My breathing started to come faster and faster.

My heart beating wildly in my chest. I winced, the picture of Arbus slumped in the chair flashing across my mind.

I took in a shaky breath, taking step after step away from my door until my back hit the wall behind me.

The cold of the marble leaked into my clothes.

My breathing was too fast and shallow to get air, and my lungs burned.

I grabbed my head, tucking it to my chest, whimpering as I squeezed my eyes shut.

The walls felt like they were closing in on me.

I couldn’t be here anymore. My feet moved before I knew it, and I ran as fast as I could down the hallway, passing guards calling for me to stop.

I followed the streets I had walked on, just two weeks prior with Ambrose, when my heart had been filled with hope and excitement for a fresh new start.

I followed the path all the way through the pearly gates, leaving the city behind.

My running slowed when I reached the fields of wildflowers, gasping for air. I fell into the tall grass, weeping, mourning for what I had done.