The King's Cursed Bride

Independent

The words thudded into her with the weight of a canon ball. If she weren't so chilled, she might have staggered backward from their force.

Aleck's uncle stepped forward, the formality dropping from his expression. "Aleck—"

Aleck whirled around. "Don't you dare take a step closer or I'll give you a taste of my knight training."

The man clenched his jaw—whether in frustration or pain, she couldn't tell. "This was all a mistake, Aleck."

"By a Reaper's Scythe, it was mistake." Aleck's expression darkened. "You were all too happy to abandon me with strangers. You don't even deserve to be related to my father. He was a good man."

The man's throat bobbed, and he nodded. "You're right. He was a good man, the kind of man I aspire to be."

Grief dragged Aleck's gaze to the ground and held it there.

"Aleck, listen to me—"

"No." His voice was soft yet held the authority of a general. Aleck glanced up. "You listen to me. Do you know what happened to me, simply because you didn't care enough to take me into your home?"

The man pressed his lips together until they whitened and remained silent.

"I was thrown into the streets. I begged for food, I starved, I was whipped, and I was beaten."

The man bowed his head, his expression hidden. "Aleck, you're right. I should have come for you sooner—or at least ensured the character of your caregivers before I left." He glanced up, a delicate hope in his eyes. "But I'm here now."

Aleck's expression dulled. "You're here too late. You should have been there for me when I needed you." He sniffed sharply, hinting he was on the brink of tears.

His uncle winced in sympathy and began to approach him. "Aleck—"

And then Aleck turned and darted up the steps.

Carissa's heart lurched. He was going to run away. She twisted away from Elon.

"Carissa, don't!"

But she was done listening to Elon. He'd said Aleck wouldn't run away. He'd said Aleck would like it. He'd said she should trust him.

Carissa lunged towards Aleck. He wasn't going to run away. Not if she had a say in it. She snatched the back of his shirt, jerking him to a halt. "Aleck, wait—"

Aleck snarled, throwing his fist at her.

Just before he hit her face, her dress collar dug into her neck as she was yanked backwards. Elon pulled her back against his chest, his arms curling around her waist.

She slumped against him, her legs trembling beneath her. Aleck had tried to hit her. But perhaps in his panicked state, he hadn't realized it was her.

Although his fiery glare in her direction said otherwise. "And you. You betrayed me, Carissa. I thought you were the one person in this world I could trust completely." A smile twisted across his lips. "I won't make that mistake again. Don't ever try to touch me again and don't look for me." His eyes glinted with a silent threat. "I don't want to see you again."

He disappeared down the hallway.

Carissa staggered out of Elon's arms and raced down the hallway after him. "Aleck, no! Wait!" Aleck was the only family she had—ever since she'd left Zonah. He'd left her once. If he left again— Her heart crumpled. What if he didn't come back? What if he was hurt?