Chapter 34
Hayden tried to hold onto Nora's hand as she pushed him away and took three quick strides towards Afet.
"How could you?" She asked, her brown eyes clouded with rage and tears. "You said she was your best friend. You said you promised her you would take care of me."
"Did I not take care of you?" Afet looked over her shoulder and asked.
"No!"
"That's a lie, Nora," Afet sighed.
The fey paused in the middle of the dirt road and turned around. The other fey guards stilled and leaned their spear forward. Hayden halted but he could still feel the guard behind him nick him with the pointy end of the iron spear. He bit down on his jaw and kept his calm, all his attention focused on Nora. He would lose it if any of them dared to lay a finger on her.
"That's very rich coming from you, you....snake," Nora spit out.
"I have done nothing but take care of you since you got here," Afet shook her head. "I do apologize for the little drama last night with Nico, but trust me I had no idea the spell would work so well."
"I can't believe you," Nora felt her ears start to ring. "You......"
Afet took a step forward and lifted her hand. She tucked back a strand of Nora's hair as her eyes locked with Hayden.
"You don't belong with him," she said, her voice so soft and gentle it was as if she was speaking to a sleeping child. "You belong with someone who can help you fulfil your duties."
"And what are my duties?" Nora stepped back and smacked Afet's hand away. "To have babies with Nico so you can bleed them?"
"It's for the children, Nora," Afet groaned.
"You killed my mother!" Nora yelled. "Was that for the children too? What about my dad?"
"No," Afet said sternly. "I did not kill her. She lived a very happy long life."
"What?" Nora asked in disbelief.
"How do you think we kept the Shajara alive for so long until we found you?"
"Where is she?" Nora felt her heart racing. "Is she on this island? Where are you hiding her?"
"Lived," Afet said as she looked down at Nora. "Past tense, Nora."
"When....when did she die?" Nora's head felt fuzzy and every muscle in her body suddenly felt as if it was made of steel.
"A few years ago."
"Did you kill her?"
"No."
"I don't believe you."
"I didn't kill your mother," Afet said, her calmness pissing Hayden off. "But I did kill you father."
Hayden's hands flew up and caught Nora as she flinched back from the fey in disgust.
"No more secrets," Afet smiled. "Now that the illusion is broken, I'll tell you everything you want to know. I hate secrets."
"What are you planning?" Hayden asked.
The smile on Afet's face grew wider.
"You said you'll tell us everything we wanted to know," Hayden reminded her. "Now, tell us what you're planning."
"My plans for Nora are grand," Afet said. "Big wedding, adoring husband, lots of kids, a big house by the sea."
Nora's body recoiled. She turned her head and buried her face in the crook of Hayden's face as if the evil standing in front of her will disappear if she couldn't see them.
