Page 173 of Ashborne Forged

‘What? What is she doing?’ I insisted, stepping toward him.

He backed away, but his eyes were sad and pleading. ‘My mother wants you to carry on her line. With me. She’ll defeat the others—she always wins, that’s why they listen to her—but now? Now, I realize she was never ignorant. She knew. I don’t know if she saw it coming, or just understood once I went to her, but it’s clear, Grace: She believes you’ll have my child, and that child will be powerful. She believes in the legacy of blood. It’s been her goal all along: To carry on the family line with children more powerful than her, producing grandchildren more powerful still.’

I gaped at him. ‘How many children does she have?’

His brow furrowed. ‘Just one. Few of them can reproduce, and the ones that do have only one. They can’t seem to have more. That’s God’s retribution, I suppose. At least, that’s what I thought. Tonight I learned they’ve found a way around that. They think if different Cruor fathers have children with you, all the children will be powerful firstborns of the old blood—’ He cut off, and looked like he might be sick, turning from me, gulping.

My heart broke for him—the fear, the vulnerability. I could feel it in him. He fought to keep himself upright, to keep his face blank. But inside, he was shattering.

I shook my head. ‘No, Voski.’

‘Yes, Grace. This is true—’

‘That’s not what I meant: You’re not one of these cruor people.’

His jaw went tight. ‘I am. Born of the bloodline and consecrated as a child—’

‘Do you do this?’ I strode up to his toes, even when he backed away, I kept coming, pressing a hand to his chest. ‘Tell me. Do you do these rituals and—’

‘No! Of course not! Not since I understood—’

‘Do you want to see your children using this awful power?’

‘No!’ He stopped hard, looming over me, his brows pinching over his nose. ‘No! But that’s what you don’t understand: I carry it, whether I use it or not. It’s a part of me. And I was raised in it. I used it before. It is alive in me! It’s why I swore I’d never have children, because I refuse to bring any child into the world carrying this, whether they know it or not!’

Instinctively, I clapped both hands to my stomach, freezing in place.

His expression sank from angry, to sad. “Grace, please… forgive me for not telling you sooner. I planned to. I was going to explain, but I never imagined it would be relevant. I’ve never told anyone except Kham, but I wanted to tell you. There’s more. There’s so much more. And I’ll tell you all of it. I swear. But we can’t risk waiting. I know these people and what they do. I will not leave you in their hands—if you marry him, you’re bound. And apparently, he’s got an agreement in place with the king to share you. I won’t do it, Grace. I won’t let them have you!” he snarled. “Not for this, not for anything. What they do would destroy your soul. I’d kill you myself, first! It would show more mercy!”

58. Surrendered

~ GRACE ~

A great many things suddenly made sense. Why Voski was often so dark. Why his anger overtook him. Why he feared the loss of control. If these people were the sort to use a woman for breeding, what must they have done to a child?

I wanted to ask, but Voski was clearly hanging by a thread.

This is why he believed he’d hurt me.

This is why he didn’t want children.

This is why he feared the bond.

“The bond,” I breathed, then looked up at him again. “This is why you didn’t want it?”

The muscles at the corner of his jaw flexed. “Grace, listen to me: Bloodline power doesn’t require consent. Do you understand? They can use you.”

“I understand.”

“Then you must see—”

“Just let me think!”

His jaw dropped. “What is there to think about? We have to get out of here! Now!”

“If we leave, they only pursue me. I only become prey to their plans—you said yourself!”

“So, we will leave, and when they come for you, I’ll kill them! But we can’t—”