Page 42 of Heart of the Cursed
Chapter 17
Selene woke to the most delicious scents filling her nostrils. Her mouth watered for a taste. She was so hungry, she could eat a horse. Not literally, though. She wouldn’t harm a hair on such majestic creatures.
Along with consciousness, came pain. It wasn’t as excruciating as it had been before she fell asleep, but her face still throbbed from where she’d been hit.
She wished she could kill her attacker, but that wasn’t possible. Arun had taken care of that for her. She was grateful he’d been there to help her. She didn’t know what would have happened if she’d been alone.
You’d probably be dead, that’s what!
Thankfully, she didn’t have to find out if that would have been the case because he had been there.
This time. What do you think is going to happen when he finds out you’re planning on kicking him and his friends out of this realm? Heh?Her subconscious asked.Oh, shut up!But it didn’t. Instead, it carried on tormenting her.You’ll die. That’s what’s going to happen. He’s not going to help you when he finds out what you’re doing. He’s going to kill you.
Selene growled. She didn’t want to listen to anymore, partly because she knew it was true. Why would he want to continue helping her after he finds out the truth? He wouldn’t.
She would be better off lying to him about what she was doing. Or better yet, telling him that she would stop. But she couldn’t bring herself to do either of them.
Arun had been honest with her, so he deserved the same in return. Not to mention, he’d saved her life not once, but twice. And all without actually knowing what he was getting himself into.
If he was sticking around and putting his life on the line for her, the least she could do was tell him the truth. After all, he deserved to know what he was going to be up against.
Go ahead, see how that turns out for you.
Selene ignored her subconscious as it laughed at her. She rolled onto her side and stretched as she opened her eyes.
“Morning,” Arun said from across the room. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Nope. Well, kind of,” she admitted. “It was the smell of food that woke me.”
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I wanted to have it ready for when you woke up. I didn’t intend on it actually waking you, though.”
“That’s okay.” She stretched her arms above her head as she yawned. “How long have I been out?”
“Only a couple of hours.”
Selene sat up on the bed. She rolled her head and shoulders, stretching the muscles.
“Did anything happen while I was out?” she asked.
Arun shook his head. “No, it’s been quiet.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not going to stay that way.”
It was only a matter of time before someone else decided to attack them.
“I’m afraid not,” he agreed. “So, you need to tell me why they are coming after you.”
“Yeah, I know,” she sighed. “But I don’t think you’re going to like it. In fact, you’ll probably want to switch sides and try to stop me. I can’t let you, though. I can’t let anyone get in my way.”
“I doubt I’ll want to switch sides,” he said, confidently.
Selene wished she felt as confident as he sounded, but deep down, she was shaking like a leaf. She felt physically sick at the thought of telling him. She didn’t want to see the anger and hatred in his eyes that was surely going to follow her news.
“I don’t.”
“Well, the only way you’re going to find out, is by telling me.”
Feeling vulnerable on the bed, Selene got to her feet and began to pace. If he was going to attack her, she stood a better chance of defending herself if she was on her feet.
