Chasing Demons (Book 2) Rated R

Chapter 38

Aimee stood at the edge of the forest, at the furthest corner of the property that the shield could reach.

I'd excused myself from the room as soon as I was physically able to and tracked her down to the edges of Dannek castle. If I'd been stronger, I'd have run straight to her but as it was, I could barely walk. The shield was taking a toll and I knew I couldn't keep it up much longer.

Yet a blinding relief coursed through me. The treaty and her safety secured, or as much of it as I could get, brought me peace. My family...my people, now had a hope of survival. Though this whole thing was far from over, a huge weight lifted from my shoulders.

I strode across the brittle earth, still parched from the winter's cold, the moon a lantern for my feet. Her black hair whipped madly in the wind, the blue silk of her gown rippling across her body.

She was thinner than she'd been a few weeks ago. Her hip bones were more pronounced, and her waist slimmer. Even her arms looked frail and thin as she wrapped them around herself. She was staring off into the forest and I slowed in my approach, not wanting to startle her. There were a million things I wanted to say to her.

I didn't know how much longer I could keep this up and truthfully, I didn't want to. There was no reason to go on lying, not when this night had proved she finally had found sense and protected herself instead of me. Not when the treaty had been signed this same hour.

The least I could do was tell her the truth about her family.

"Aimee..." I said, only loud enough for her to hear me over the wind.

She didn't turn to look at me.

Even her cheekbones were sharper and I worried for her. Her paleness and shaking had not been lost on me in the throne room.

I wanted to take her into my arms and hold her but what right did I have? Even if I told her the truth now about why I had allied myself with Stefan, the damage had been done. I'd promised no more lies once already and then turned around and repeated the same pattern. Truthfully, she had every right to hate me.

"I would like to know only one thing, Christian Dannek." She said, her eyes cast out toward the forest.

There was a disconcerting darkness to her tone.

"What is it?" I asked, dreading the question.

"You can drop the shield, right?"

After a minute, I answered carefully. "Yes. For a couple of seconds at most."

"Enough for a person to go through?"

I swallowed and glanced out into the dark forest where genocidal monsters surely lurked. "Yes."

"What if I asked you to drop down the shield, right now, for just a moment, so I could leave this place? You've got your treaty. You have your people's support. You have everything you wanted." Oh, sweetheart, not everything. "You don't need me anymore and there's nothing left for me here."

No, this was not how it was supposed to go. This treaty was supposed to keep her safe.

"You are weak and sick. I can't in good conscience let you leave like this."

"I'm ready to go, Christian. I can't stand to look at you for one more second."

I flinched. I thought I was prepared for this reaction, expected it even...but it still stung.

"I can't..." I muttered, unable to hide the desperation in my voice. "Aimee, please, it's dangerous out there. You don't have to like me or even be near me, especially after everything I've done. I understand if you hate me, but please, just let me keep you safe. Once the threat is over, you are free to go."