Bound By Blood by C.H. Scarlett Read Free Book Online Page B

pure, that is what's most important." The sound of his words became distant again , so she knew he had returned to his throne. She quietly took a huge sigh of relief.
                  "Claiming me as your own, would not have kept the bloodline pure. Not without invoking the Awakening within me and worse ." Deep down, Sama nthŕa knew that was the only thing that saved her.
                  “I had hoped I could spare you the suffering of the herbs, by doing so, and with my own power, with the power of the throne, prev ent your . . . cursed destiny . By having power over you, I could . . . " he paused, chillingly for what seemed like an eternity . " I admitted my mistake. Even I am prone to making the worst decisions while under the effects of Lycãon liquor.”
                  “ Yes, so you have said many times , ” s he whispered.
                  “You would not have been punished to stay in my chamber if you would simply follow my rules and stop wandering off , ” h e snapped. “ And let us not forget what you also stopped doing despite my warnings . . . no excuse for not taking the herbs.” He growled low, changing the subject. He often avoided talking about things that brought him great guilt . “You act as though you care nothing for the curse.”
                  “I have not forgotten the curse over my head , father , ” s he admitted, thankful that her sisters did not have to b ear such a worry as her. Their A wakenings would bring about good prophecies and purposes for them. Hers, though she was unclear as to the details, would bring about nothing but dread. The Oracles swore it.
                  “If you have not forgotten , then why did you not take the potion I made for you last eve?” H e upbraid ed her. “We agreed , did we not? Do the rituals and take the potions and I will allow Dezarãe to remain here with you. I will allow visitation with your other sisters. Do not take the potions and I will cut you off completely from your sisters and send Dezarãe away. Did we not agree to that ?”
                  Samanthŕa turned to face him. She could not hide her guilt. Not this time. “They make me ill , f ather . " Now she knew the true reason for his sending Dezarãe away or his most important . " I wanted to be able to attend the festival and be at my fullest potential. Many depend on this festival. What would they think if their Priestess was falling over as if she were dying? ”
                  “What would they think? Who are they to think of anything other than what I tell them? ” He was cynical .
                  She knew better than to argue about his warped and egotistical opinions , so she got back on track. “I would not defy you and our agreement without good reason. I would not risk losing my sisters or having the curse, which haunts me , befall them. You know this , father.” Truth was she ’d been dodging that potion for a few weeks now especially ever since he ’d attempted to lay claim over her. She was sick of his control and sick of feeling weak. Even if her mind did not rebel, her will and very nature most certainly would. But if he did not know that, she wouldn’t willingly tell. She accepted the blame for this one night but that is the only blame she would swallow . She did not want to lose her sisters , but her very insides refused to kneel any lower than what she was forced to do already .
                  "Do I know this?"
                  "Yes." She bowed her head, staring low, but not because she was tilting with respect, but because her thoughts raced with the horror of the herbs. T he potions and rituals felt as though they were slowly killing her , even if she had never experienced life fading from her body before , as he ’d reminded her often when she ’d complained in the past . She couldn’t explain it , but she knew. So , s he had