"Alaric, he was only protecting himself. If you and I were to have a child someday, where would that leave him and his family? Where would that leave the child? It's only human nature."
I laughed, hollow and sharp. Human nature. What a convenient excuse.
Lola set down the bowl and spoke again. "Milton's been doubled over with stomach pains ever since he got home. It's possible some dark energy from you affected him..."
She trailed off, watching me, choosing her next words carefully.
"There's a venerable monk at Everhold Abbey. I need you to go to him, have him perform a cleansing rite for you, and then climb every one of the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps of the Celestial Stairway on your hands and knees to obtain a blessing charm for Milton. Do that, and we can put this whole matter behind us. All right?"
I stared at her, my eyes burning red.
"Lola Black, you and I are finished. If you want a blessing charm, go get it yourself."
I forced my battered body off the bed, trying to leave this wretched place.
But Lola blocked my path.
She ordered her servants to drag me away. They ignored my struggling, threw me onto a horse, and rode hard to the foot of Everhold Abbey.