Page 49 of Crown of Envy

“We were betrayed,” he growled.

“Yes, unfortunately.” My gaze fell on Zara, who was whispering urgently with Lisa. The sight of them made my skin crawl with suspicion.

Brody’s grip on my shoulder tightened. “Be careful,” he warned.

“I will,” I promised, trying to inject more confidence into my voice than I felt.

As Justice stepped toward me, I pressed my finger to his lips. “I need to do this alone,” I murmured. “You know it’s true. I must reveal my darkest secret. Something I haven’t been able to think about for years.”

His frown deepened, concern etching lines around his eyes. “What?”

I glanced at Damon, my heart heavy. “I’m the reason my mom died.”

Damon paled, his eyes widening in disbelief. “No, that’s not possible,” he choked out.

Justice’s hand clamped onto my arm, his grip almost painful. “I won’t stand by and watch you die,” he growled.

“I know,” I whispered, slowly backing away. Each step toward the altar felt like I was moving through quicksand, my legs trembling beneath me.

As I faced the hissing serpent, its eyes bored into me, seeming to pierce my soul. My legs shook, threatening to give way beneath me as I opened the memory I had tried to bury for so long.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. “When I was seven,” I began, my voice quivering, “I met a man—a vampire. I didn’t know what he was. He was so charming and kind, and I… I told him about our home, about Mom.”

Damon’s sharp intake of breath cut through the silence. He stepped closer. “What are you saying, Sawyer?”

I swallowed hard, the bitterness of the truth coating my tongue. “That vampire used the information I gave him to find us. He came to our house because of me. I led him right to our doorstep. I didn’t know, I was just a kid, but…it’s my fault Mom died.”

The cave fell silent in the significance of my confession. I felt Damon’s eyes on me, anger and sorrow radiating from him in waves. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity as I waited, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst from my chest.

I braced myself, not for the serpent’s reaction, but for my brother’s. The truth I had carried for so long was finally out, and I felt both lighter and more vulnerable than ever before. Whatever came next, the serpent’s judgment or my brother’s response, nothing would ever be the same again.

“But you weren’t there when Mom died,” Damon stated behind me, his voice thick with confusion. “I was the one who found her.”

I turned to face him, my body trembling under the burden of my confession. “I saw the man leave the house,” I choked out, the words burning my throat. “He had blood running down his chin. He laughed at me, thanking me for allowing him to kill the hunter who murdered his mate.” I bowed my head, unable to meet Damon’s gaze. “I’m sorry, Damon. It’s my fault.”

Suddenly, Damon’s arms were around me, pulling me close. I collapsed against his chest, sobs wracking my body. His shirt grew damp with my tears as he held me tightly.

“It’s not, Sawyer,” he rumbled. “You weren’t responsible. I forgive you.”

A loud hiss cut through the emotional moment, making me flinch. “You are worthy,” a slippery voice echoed in my mind. “You have earned the crown.”

My heart clenched. The snake was using telepathy to communicate.

I pulled away from Damon, wiping my tears with shaking hands. The serpent’s eyes seemed sincere, but wariness kept me on edge. “Thank you, Damon,” I murmured, slowly backing away from him.

He clasped my wrist, his grip desperate. “Sawyer, no. Don’t do it.”

I gently pried his fingers away, my heart breaking at the fear in his eyes. “It’s my destiny, Damon. Whatever happens, it was meant to be.”

With leaden feet, I approached the serpent. It revealed its fangs, and I froze, my muscles tensing for an attack. However, its gaze wasn’t on me. I glanced over my shoulder, following its line of sight to Zara and Lisa.

I drew a deep breath that did little to calm my racing heart and reached for the Crown of Envy. The serpent rolled through it, coiling up on the altar, its hiss raising goosebumps on my arms.

I won’t kill you. Its voice slithered through my mind.

Relief flooded me, quickly followed by a new wave of dread. If not me, who?

The serpent’s gaze remained fixed behind me. Instinct took over, and I lunged for the Crown, my fingers closing around the cool metal.

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