Page 78 of Queen of Wrath

“She's still in there,” he whispered, a tender smile dawning on his face.

She didn't have to ask what he meant by it. “Why do you care so much about bringing her back?”

“Because I miss having hope. Don't you?”

Her lips pressed into a tight line before she leaned forward to rest her forehead against his chest.

“The world needs you, Lea… I need you.”

32

ZANE

Zane paced back and forth across his living room floor, waiting for Mairy. He’d been contemplating whether or not to tell her about Lea being alive.

I can't keep that from her. Lea is her best friend. She deserves to know.

The front door opened and two children rushed in.

Zane snapped his head up, staring at his wife carrying a bag of groceries. He was quick to collect the bag from her, and ushered the children to their room immediately after. “Why don't you both go play for a bit? I have to speak to your mother.”

Vienna and Demitri didn't quite understand why they were being sequestered to confinement, but they knew better than to argue with their father.

“Mair, I have something very important to tell you. I think you might want to sit down for this.”

But she stood in place, as stubborn as ever, with her hand on her hip, waiting for Zane to continue. “Out with it. You're making me nervous.”

“It’s Lea… I don't know how to tell you this, but as I was visiting her family's graves, someone was already there. I thought it strange since there were no surviving members of Lea’s family, so I approached her… She doesn’t look like her anymore, but it was her. Mair, Lea’s alive?—”

“What do you mean she doesn’t look like her?” Mair remained skeptical.

“She has to wear a disguise now…” He couldn't understand why she wasn’t over the moon by this joyous revelation.

“Did this woman tell you that?” She continued with her interrogation, eyeing him as if he’d lost his marbles.

Zane’s smile fell from his face as he realized the conversation was going sideways.

“And why were you visiting her grave, anyway? Don't you think that's a little strange?” The look on Mairy's face went from confused to angry. “I don't understand why you can't just let her go. She's dead. Get over it!”

“But she's not. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Your best friend is alive, Mair.” Zane reached out his hands to her, but she backed away.

“My husband is too distracted chasing ghosts to notice me. Almost two decades in prison, and I thought—” She stopped and turned her face away from him, as if to debate whether it was something she really wanted to say aloud or not. “I thought that once it was announced she’s dead, you’d finally let her go. But it'll never end, will it? You're always going to be in love with her. I've given you children and a good life… But she still wins.”

“Mair—”

“Am I wrong?” she interjected before he could come up with anything else to say.

There is no getting around it now.

Zane’s eyes dropped to the floor in defeat. He could argue with her all he wanted, but deep down he knew she was right.

“I'm sorry.” Those were the only words he could think to say, even if they weren’t nearly strong enough to convey his feelings.

“You will live to regret this.” She turned her back to Zane and walked out of the house.

He stumbled to the side, grabbing the end of the table for support.

His hand ran anxiously through his hair.

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