Page 16 of Branches of Betrayal

“You didn’t try hard enough, then. Because I had to become the monster you didn’t want me to be. You command your shadows and now I command mine. The darkness belongs to me as much as it does you, and I hate you for it. I love you—more than I ever thought possible—and it makes me so angry that you’ve twisted my love into something else.”

Hadina flinched at the brutality of Peyton’s words, rocking back on her heels as though she had physically wounded her. “Please, don’t say that. I can handle you hating me, but please don’t think I didn’t try.”

“You call yourself the fucking queen of the shadows! If it took you so long to come for me, then I know you didn’t try hard enough. You wrapped yourself up in self pity, while I was being wrapped up in rope. I am the monster in my own nightmares and I will never be able to escape that.”

“You’re no monster,” Hadina pleaded, her eyes watering with her own tears. “You can come back from this,tentadora.”

Peyton laughed until it turned into strangled sobs, her eyes and nose burning in the process. “There is no coming back from this, Hadi—not for me, not forus. I don’t need you to teach me how to devour the world; I taught myself. So, go back to your sister and play house and make amends. Leave me to heal and pick up the broken pieces of myself so that I can leave this hell on earth and never come back.”

“Tentadora, I beg you,please!” Hadina whispered. “Don’t do this.”

“Leave, Hadina. Go back to your kingdom and find someone else to play with. I’m done with tempting you… I’m done with anything the Adis family has to offer.”

Hadina bit down on her lip and stood, unblinking and unwilling to look at Peyton. “As you wish.”

Peyton watched as the love of her life turned on her heels and followed direction for the first time in her life. Only when the door clicked shut behind her did she allow herself to shatter completely, emotion flooding her system like a tidal wave. She didn’t regret a single word she had said, but it didn’t make it hurt any less.

The price of betrayal was a bitterness in her heart that she didn’t think she would ever be able to escape.

Chapter 10

Hadina

As soon asshe closed the door behind her, Hadina fell to her knees and allowed herself to sob. She hated this. Hated herself. Peyton was right; this was all her fault and there was no denying that. Even if she wanted to pretend otherwise.

Her stupid actions, Zellie’s and her father’s too…they had all led to this. Led to heartache and pain for Peyton that she could barely handle. Seeing her heart split in two and the emptiness in her eyes was enough to destroy whatever walls Hadina had left. Her walls were crumbling into dust and so was she.

“¿Hermana?”

Hadina looked up to find Piper standing in front of her. She hadn’t even heard her approach.

“Hadina?¿Qué ocurre? Are you okay?”

“She said she’s done,” Hadina whispered quietly, her voice broken and sad. “She’s done with this family and she…she’s done with me, too.”

Piper sighed and leaned down, helping to pick Hadina up. “Come. Let’s have some tea and you can tell me what she said.”

Hadina let her little sister pull her along and into the large sitting area. She sipped from the mug of tea Piper made her, relaying her conversation with Peyton in a monotone voice. She felt empty, like a shell of a human—in pain and all alone.

“Eres una tonta. You walked away? Are you freaking dumb?”

Hadina pulled back in shock as though her sister had struck her. Piper was normally so sweet and docile. Though, with everything since Peyton’s disappearance, Hadina had noticed a slight change in Piper’s demeanor. “She told me to go!”

Piper tutted and shook her head. “Ay, Hadina, I thought you were the smartest of us all! She told you to go because she feels like you didn’t try hard enough to fight for her… Leaving again just solidifies that in her mind.”

“I won’t force myself into her life,hermana. She’s been through enough.”

“¡Dios mío!What is wrong with this family and our ability to have healthy communication?”

Hadina rolled her eyes as she looked at her baby sister. “Says the member of this family repressing her feelings.”

Piper tensed up and glared at Hadina, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I see the way Adrian looks at you. Don’t pretend you don’t feel the same.”

“Mind your fucking business, Hadi,” Piper warned in a tone Hadina knew was usually reserved for Zellie—it hurt her more than she was willing to admit knowing that it was being used on her.

Letting out a sigh, Hadina resigned her argumentative attitude. She chewed nervously at the corner of her lower lip. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Pip. I just–I can’t handle it if she rejects me again. I love her.”

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