She ducked her head. “There's no need to be afraid, Kellen. I made a deal with your father, and I'll keep my end of the bargain, if you let me.” He said, thinking that he would find a way to stop the intercourse. He didn't want to have children from that union, and as long as they didn't have children, he would live like a king in that castle. Kellen began the arduous task of ridding herself of her clothes. Anthony watched impatiently for a moment, but then got up, leaving the bottle on the floor, and went over to her. With nimble, experienced hands, he helped her free her clothes. And then he realized that she wasn't as skinny as he thought, Kellen had an enviable body, and one made for pleasure. He took her to bed, and contrary to what he had planned, to have sex quickly, and turn over and go to sleep, he loved her dearly, and lost himself in her arms. He couldn't imagine a better place to be than there, in the arms of that beautiful woman. And he forgot to interrupt t
Anthony looked at him suspiciously. There was no longer any fury in his eyes. “A few minutes ago, you seemed ready to kill me.” “Yes... But that's beside the point. You didn't lie to me. You didn't tell me that everything I said was a lie, but you didn't deny it either. And think about it. Imagine that a daughter of yours married a man who had the thoughts that you brought into your marriage. How would you react? Wouldn't you be enraged?” “Yes. If I listened. I've never said anything to anyone about my wedding plans.” “That's how I heard it, Anthony. From the first time we sat down together to make a deal and you asked in disgust if she was sick. At that moment, you opened the door for me to know your thoughts.” “So... It's not just the women in your fable, in your family, who are born with gifts?” Anthony asked mockingly. “Boy, everyone in my lineage is born with the gift of magic. But you don't need that gift to know the pretensions of someone as transparent as you.”
“Kellen, go help your mother.” Kellen turned away from Anthony, her eyes sad at having to part from him, but she smiled at him before leaving, as if she was sure they would see each other again. Anthony had his doubts. He sat down again at the invitation of his father-in-law, who sat down opposite him. “I appreciate visits, Anthony. Will you stay and have lunch with us?” “Yes, of course. I'd be honored.” “Great. And how are your parents?” “They're fine. I'd like to ask your permission to go back with Kellen...” Anthony thought it best to get straight to the point, he wasn't in the mood for small talk at the moment. His father-in-law looked at him curiously. “Why would I allow something like that?” “Because... She loves me. She must have suffered in my absence.” “No. Actually, she didn't mind.” “I could see her rejection by the way she greeted me.” Anthony said wryly. “She likes you. It's normal for her to be pleased. You, for us and for her, are her husband and.
The child was born and celebrated. Kellen's father wouldn't accept any name suggested by Anthony, and Kellen didn't get involved in this conflict, which made Anthony very angry. The girl was called several names, since Anthony couldn't stop his father-in-law from giving her a name chosen by both of them. Every day he called her by a name, unaware that this would have repercussions in the future, and with the desire to cause confusion in his own daughter's mind. An emotion he hadn't felt for a long time. And he welcomed it back, even with pleasure, because Kellen's father forbade him to sleep in the same room as his daughter until the end of her confinement period, and he wasn't even allowed to see her. They only brought his daughter to him so that he could be with her, but when Anthony took her in his arms, he felt like she was a creature of darkness, conceived by a spell, and he couldn't look at her with love. It was with immense joy that Anthony met Kellen in the dining room,
Her mother stood up, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand, and looked at Anthony angrily. “How could you let her get into this state?” “She told me it was normal. That sometimes she got like this.” “I'll prepare the herbs that cured her the other time...” She said, and stopped when she saw her husband standing in the doorway, looking impatient. “You're not going to give her herbs, because herbs don't work more than once. You two, settle down!” “Are you crazy?” Anthony asked, as his mother-in-law burst into tears. We have to try everything we can to save her life. We have to fight. We can't give up! It's your daughter! I can't believe you're so selfish and insensitive like that!” “I've already told you that herbs only do that once per person. It restores the energy, but it doesn't really heal the person. My daughter managed to go beyond expectations. She was lucky.” “Well, if the herbs don't work, then let me bring in a doctor.” “No doctor can s
“It doesn't matter now, my dear. When you dream of him for the first time, you'll remember my words. Let Dad think that everything is under his control. Never reveal your visions, or you'll be another victim of his greed, and...” Kellen looked up at the ceiling. “You won't grow up on this island, and you won't remember your origins until your enemy, the Knife, opens an important book about the Mists. You'll go to other places, where people won't know that Avallon really exists... Your life... Ah! Brianna. No Bruma can live past the age of twenty-five. Change that fate, my child.” Brianna stared at Kellen, frowning. By the way, she couldn't remember everything she'd said, how would she do that when she grew up? She was only three years and a few months old. The man Brianna didn't like entered the room with another man and rudely demanded that she leave them alone. As soon as the girl left, Anthony sat down next to Kellen and held her hand while all the tests were carried ou
Three months later, after his departure, Anthony returned to the castle where he had sworn he would never set foot again. He needed to say his last goodbye to his wife. Anthony entered the room where she was being veiled, and his eyes met those of his father-in-law, who looked older and tired, and he hated him even more. He saw the little girl next to him, looking curiously at the dead woman. He hated her too. For it was better that he had never known such happiness, if it was to be snatched away from him so soon. And because of that girl, he had lived days that he would never be able to repeat with anyone else. He approached the coffin and realized how beautiful his sweet Kellen looked. She seemed to be asleep. Her face was not cadaverous, nor was her skin pale. He knelt down and wept in front of everyone present. He had never told her that he loved her. And what did it matter now, the words he didn't know how to say? She let him go so easily that he thought he was nothin
“Brianna, you have to learn that I know what's best for you. And it is best for you, since you were not given the gift of sight. I did everything I could to awaken your gift, but you're just like other ordinary people. The only thing that sets you apart is your blood. Power runs through your veins, my child. You are the first in a long line not to have a vision of your future husband. So I have to do this for you, since you haven't given me a choice. I know this means that this marriage won't produce another Bruma, but it guarantees that it will produce a very powerful species.” “I don't care about any of that, Dad. I won't marry that man to satisfy you. Why do I have to get married? That's so outdated...” “It's not outdated, Brianna. Have you ever seen a decent young woman your age without a husband? We're not in... Our land. I know that habits here are modern, but... I prefer to stick to our traditions.” Brianna stood up. “Dad, don't think about it anymore. I have Mom's in