Page 65 of Broken Hearted
“Adrien, no,” I whimpered.
We couldn’t do this again: not the tea. I wanted to knock that cursed cup to the floor and watch it shatter.
Adrien took the cup and looked past Elisana right at me. His gaze was filled with sorrow and longing.
“Now drink up and let’s get these unwanted houseguests out of here. Mother is on her way back to town and she’s so excited to meet you.”
I bit my lip, as silent tears fell from my eyes and down my cheeks. I shook my head, silently begging him not to do this, but also knowing he had no choice. If I hurt Elisana, I hurt my sister. If Elisana flew into a rage and tried to hurt Adrien, myself or Seraphina, then I couldn’t protect us because I wouldn’t be able to retaliate. I was stuck.
With slightly shaky hands, Adrien upended the cup and chugged the whole thing down in one go. I had to suppress the sob in my chest.
I tugged my sister’s arm, forcing her to stand with me. I had to get her out of here soon or she might bleed to death, but I couldn’t leave Adrien. How could I leave him with her?
A slightly glassy look came over Adrien, and he leaned forward and pulled Elisana into his arms. Seeing her in his embrace made my stomach roil and I almost rushed forward and ripped them apart, but then Adrien looked over Elisana’s shoulder and stared directly at me, clarity shining from his eyes.
“I love you,” he said, and my heart hammered in my chest. It felt like the world around us stopped as we stared at each other.
He was looking right atmewhen he said it.
The words hung in the air between us like the beautiful rose-gold shimmers that appeared when we kissed, but then Elisana’s grating laughter pierced the moment, shattering it.
“I love you, too,” she told him. “I’ve missed you.”
But he was holdingmygaze. I knew then without a shadow of a doubt that he was talking to me, not her.
Did the tea not work this time? Was he fighting it?
“Go,” he mouthed.
I was torn, but then my sister sagged next to me and I glanced over to see her face was a deathly shade of white. I had to get her to safety and get help. The only person I could think of was Dawn.
Elisana pulled away from Adrien and turned to face me with venom in her gaze. “Get out. You’ve overstayed your welcome.”Reaching into the folds of her skirt she pulled out a small wand. A glowing rune danced at the tip, ready to be cast.
Throwing my sister’s arm over my neck, I yanked her forward, holding her shoulder as we ran out of that house so fast I almost tripped and fell on my face.
Chapter Twenty-One
Adrien
Ihad to lock down my emotions as I watched Isolde flee with her sister. Everything inside me screamed to cut Elisana down, end her here and now, and leave with my mate. But I couldn’t. A strike against my ex-fiancée was a strike against Isolde’s beloved sister, and I would never cause Isolde that kind of pain. So I fought my desire for revenge and stood rooted in place, watching the love of my life run in the other direction, taking half of my heart with her.
I’d taken a gamble drinking Elisana’s potion, but it had been a good one. I’d consumed the liquid over a minute ago, and though I felt a pulling at my thoughts to shift to Elisana, I was easily able to fight it. Now that Isolde and I had bonded, the magic that connected us was stronger than Elisana’s potion. I had hoped that would be true before I drank. But even if I’d been wrong, it would have been worth it to give Isolde the opportunity to escape with Seraphina. And I reasoned that Isolde had already broken the spell once, so I had confidence she would be able to detox me of this poison again if she had to.
She was amazing, my mate. Fierce, loyal, kind, and brave. I truly believed there was nothing she couldn’t do, but even so, I was relieved to find I was still in my right mind.
I only had to convince Elisana I was under her spell for a few more moments. My plan was to immobilize her as soon as Isolde and Seraphina were safely gone. I might not be able to strike Elisana down, but I could render her useless with my magic, and then I would search this house from top to bottom for some way to break the soul-tie she’d created with Seraphina.
The front door slammed, marking Isolde’s and Seraphina’s exit, and relief shot through me.
Thank the stars, they’d made it out of the house. But right on the heels of that relief was a longing and sadness so acute it felt like my heart was being squeezed in a vise. I wasn’t meant to be separated from my mate like this.
Turning back to me, Elisana leaned against me with her head on my shoulder, seemingly content. I gathered my shadows, pulling them closer as I readied my snare. In a moment I would shove her away and then spring my trap, boxing her in shadows.
Elisana didn’t seem to notice the shadows slithering toward us. Her fingernails ran over the back of my neck as she draped her arm across my chest, and a wave of revulsion rolled through me that I played off like a shiver of desire. I glanced down at her, forcing my gaze to remain a mask of loving devotion.
“I’m so glad to have you back, darling,” she said, using her favorite term of endearment for me as she snuggled closer.
It took everything inside me not to rip myself away from her, but instead I concentrated on playing my part.
