Page 54

“Yes, but what does she mean?” Apphia then read aloud, “You’ve completed twice the amount of internships required.”

Her heart slammed out of control, her chest tightening until she was struggling to breath. “That letter was a mistake, when would I have had time for internships?”

“Why are you researching mythical jewellery in Hell?” Her mother asked, holding up the book Peri had gotten from Oleander.

Peri’s heart pounded. If she told the truth, they would twist it against her. But lying to them had always been futile. Still, she had to try.

“I—I didn’t think it was such an unacceptable subject to read about,” she said, as calmly as she could manage. Then she watched her mother toss that book into the fire as well. Most of her books—everything she’d been researching to break this Cursed Bargain—were now tinder for the flames roaring hungrily in her fireplace. She was left with only the few books her parents hadn’t found. Against her will, tears filled her eyes. She brushed them furiously away, desperate not to let them crack her composure.

Takar sighed. “Your grandfather was told that you’ve already exceeded the requirements to leave the Academy.” He nodded at the letter in Apphia’s hand. “We’ve told you that your job is to be learning how to be the best support to Valus that you can be… all this research has become a distraction. You’ll stay home from this point forward. We’ll notify the Academy of our decision.”

Peri forced herself to take a few more deep breaths. Digging her nails once more into her palms to give herself something to focus on besides her ashen books and dwindling freedom. How was she ever to find the earring now if she could not leave her Circle and if her research books were ashes?

Her palms grew warm with sticky blood. She could fix this. She could sneak out, find Oleander, finish the project… and get new books, hiding them better than the ones her parents had burnt. Fighting to keep her composure, she drew in a long breath and blew it out slowly.

“Fine,” she managed, the word slipping from her lips like it had a life of its own. She would be fine—eventually.

Takar stepped forward, pulling her into a hug. Peri’s arms trembled as she reluctantly wrapped them around him, the bitter taste of blood filling her mouth as she realised she’d bitten through her lip. Her body felt like it was breaking. She wanted to scream, to run, to be anywhere but here, but something inside her urged her to stay still, to make them believe she was okay.

Before she could speak, Takar’s hand settled on her shoulder blade. A sudden, burning sensation shot through her back, sharp and unfamiliar—like being branded. She jerked away from him, a chill creeping through her veins. What had he just done to her?

“This was for your own good.” He faltered. “Your grandfather bargained for this binding rune. It’ll keep you tied to the Holy Circle.”

Peri’s fingers reached for her back, her heart hammering as she desperately tried to tear it from her skin. “But... how will I Ascend?”

“You’ll be able to leave as long as Moloch is with you,” Apphia said softly, her tone almost soothing. “We just want to keep you safe, out of trouble, until you can Ascend and are mated.”

Tears flooded Peri’s face. The words died in her throat, replaced by a gut-wrenching sob. Apphia took a step forward, but Peri backed away.

Unable to keep her words in check, Peri choked out, “I’ll never forgive you for this.”

Her parents watched her, helpless and distant, their eyes full of pity—pity that made her skin crawl. She covered her face with her hands, gasping for air as she curled into herself, the pain in her chest unbearable.

They don’t get to pity her for the harm they themselves caused.

Eventually, Apphia set a cup of tea on the table nearby. “It’ll be alright, Peri.”

Peri snatched her mother’s arm. “Are you so unhappy with your life that you would force this prison onto me?”

Confusion filled Apphia’s eyes as she tried to pull from her grasp, but Peri only tightened her grip. After a moment her mother stammered, “Someday, when you’re older, you’ll understand. We love you, and just want what’s best for you.”

She searched her mother’s eyes, incredulity choking back every response she tried to give. Eventually, Peri loosened her hold, tears streaming down her face as Apphia turned and hurried from the room—her father closing the door softly behind them. All her life Peri had been so confident that she’d known the answer to everything. She’d so deeply believed her parents, her Circle, her entire family. But now… nothing made sense.

Peri collapsed onto the floor, her head resting on her arms, her thoughts bounding wildly out of control. Her gut clenched when she realised that there was a moment, brief but visceral, when she had looked at her mother’s hand as it tossed one of her books into the fire when she thought: I could cut that hand off and present it to Slang.

She’d glared at her father, stoically allowing everything to happen and thought, he doesn’t even need those eyes, if he can’t see the horror happening right in front of him.

Now though, she recontextualised those thoughts. She had been upset, yes. But she didn’t hate them. They were her parents, in some strange, sickening way she knew they thought they were just doing what was best for her.

Except it was beginning to feel like when the plants on her windowsill grew ill and she’d pulled them out of their pot only to find the roots putrid. The only way to save the plant was to prune off everything rotten. But this was her family. Her home. If she cut them off she wouldn’t thrive, she’d have nothing.

And anyway, why would Slang come to her now? She couldn’t break this Cursed Bargain—she couldn’t even help herself.

She crawled into her bed, exhausted.

Zila crept in at some point and curled next to her in quiet comfort. Exhausted, she buried herself in her hellcat’s fur and eventually fell into a fitful sleep.

Chapter