Page 29 of Insatiable

Tomas stops me, his hands firm on my shoulders. “Not right now, you don’t. You’ve only just woken up from a coma. You need to see a doctor.”

I want to argue that the demon hell doctors don’t give a shit, but I’m so exhausted with my failed attempt to get out of bed that I let him leave to find one. As I lie back, I turn my gaze back to Felix and Ro. The sight of him by her side stirs something deep within me, a mix of anger and sorrow.

It suddenly hits me why I feel sadness on a different level than just having my best friend in a coma. Maybe Felix is a changed man. Maybe Ro’s love has made him a different personthan he used to be. And as he was the lowest of the low, that’s a massive turnaround.

Tomas, on the other hand, was always attentive. If I’d have been in hospital back when we were both alive, he’d have been at my bedside, holding my hand. Except he’d have been texting one of his other women the whole time. Every part of my relationship with Tomas was a lie, and I’ve been pulled back into the lies one time too many.

Maybe Felix is capable of change, but Tomas most definitely isn’t. And the sad thing is, if he is capable of change, he’s told way too many lies for me to believe him ever again.

The weight of my realizations bears down on me, making it hard to breathe. Sure enough, I see Tomas discretely slipping his Hell Cell back into his pocket as he returns with a doctor.

“She’s awake so she’ll probably survive,” The doctor says nonchalantly while barely bothering to look at me.

“Did you hear that Jules?” Tomas says, excitedly. “You’re gonna be alright.”

I nod and close my eyes. I’m tired but the truth is, I don’t want to look at him right now. Knowing that his concern is probably just an act and he’ll be out the door and fucking Tate the second I close my eyes again has me wishing him gone.

“Rest now,” he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “You need your strength.”

As sleep begins to pull me under, I cling to the warmth of his embrace, to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. For the first time in what feels like forever, a flicker of peace settles inside me. And I really fricking hate that I feel it.

My eyes flutter open, a fragile hope swelling in my chest that maybe—just maybe—he’s changed. I watch him as he walks away through the hospital ward door. But my heart clenches painfully when I catch a glimpse of silvery blonde hair. I blink,and just like that, it’s gone. Was Tate waiting for him outside, or am I just losing my mind?

The problem is, I’ll never know for sure, and I can’t expect Tomas to tell me the truth.

Sleep takes me away for hours, and when I wake up, it’s not Tomas by my bedside, but Quinn. I wave off the disappointment and give her a weak smile. “It’s good to see you,” I murmur. My throat is dry, but I know there’s no point asking for water. Just like everything else, I’ll have to suck it up.

"You have no idea how good it is to see you too." Tears make Quinn's eyes glisten, but she's smiling.

I hazard a glance toward the bed at the far end of the room. Rowena is still there. So is Felix. Quinn follows my gaze, her expression tightening.

“He hasn’t left her side once.”

“Maybe he’s changed?” I suggest.

“Or maybe he’s just watching over his assets,” she snaps, her voice laced with bitterness.

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to elaborate.

“That’s his baby she’s carrying. Let’s not pretend he gives a shit about Rowena,” Quinn says, folding her arms. “His heir is more important.”

“He’s holding her hand,” I point out softly.

“Yeah,” she scoffs. “Like a leash.” Quinn sighs and shakes her head. “Maybe he’s trying to convince himself that he’s capable of caring. But people like him don’t change, Juliette. They just pretend to.”

I look back at Felix and Ro, my heart heavy. I was telling myself the very same thing just a few hours ago about Tomas.

As I lay back, exhaustion pulling at me again, I can’t help but wonder if there’s any hope for redemption in this hellish place. For Felix. For Tomas. For any of us.

“Are any of us really capable of change, Quinn? These games were always about redemption, but we’ve played by the rules and nothing has changed. It’s just getting harder and harder.”

Quinn looks down. “I don’t know if Tomas told you, but everyone who ate the food is out of the games.”

I feel a lump form in my throat. “Out of the games? What does that mean?”

“I’m sorry.” Her voice trembles with frustration and sorrow. “It means you’re stuck here in Gluttony forever.”

My entire world shatters. I shake my head vehemently and try to sit up before a bolt of nausea hits me causing me to lie back down. “No! I can’t stay here. This can’t be happening.”

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