Page 102 of Burning Your Lies

“My life ismine, Huxley. It is not for anyone to take.”

If she convinced Rowan not to kill her, it’s because she offered him a bigger prize. Rowan’s anger is at me because, without me, Eliana would never have been able to escape his clutches. I took his queen, so the only fitting punishment is for him to take mine.

I turn my head and look at her. “Me in exchange for her.”

Her icy eyes meet mine. Her eyebrows raise and she smiles. “How very noble.”

“He’s going to kill you, too.”

“Brynn Jones is ready to die. She has lived her life.”

I nod my head. “You make sure she wins. You uphold your end of the deal.”

“You would die for her?”

My eyes linger on my wedding band. “Till death do us part.” I stand up. “The path to redemption and new beginnings is one we prepare for, but do not take. Why do you think that is?”

She stands. “Because we lose who we are.”

I smile. “Indeed.”

45

Savannah

I purse my lipsto hold back my laugh, but one look at Hadley has it bursting out. “I don’t think they’re supposed to look likethat.”

Our cupcakes are too golden and the large potholes in the middle definitely show we did something wrong.

Hadley tries to think of a way we can salvage them. “Maybe we fill it with cream and call it a victoria sponge?”

I jab my finger into one of the dry cakes. “A sponge is supposed to be soft. These are…”

“Terrible,” Huxley remarks as he looks over my shoulder. “We could kill two birds with those.”

She flips her middle finger at her brother. “They’re notthatbad.”

“Yes they are,” he argues. “I thought I told you to stay away from the kitchen?” he teases me.

I smile at him. Being back at his parents’ house makes everything between us feel normal again. Huxley never mentioned where he went after departing the house. All I know is, he returned home with a focused mindset.

“Let’s just find a local bakery and buy some cupcakes.”

She eyes our baking disaster one last time with a frown. “Agreed.”

Huxley dangles the car keys. “I’ll drive. You guys might be delirious from the smoke fumes after burning those poor cakes.”

The car ride is filled with the siblings bickering back and forth. I sit back and laugh along with them, not siding with either of them. When we get out of the car, Hadley shoves him before threading her arm through mine and walking into the bakery. The smell of the baked goods makes my stomach rumble. We eye all the options, unsure which ones to nab for our movie night.

“Two triple chocolate,” Huxley says before we’ve finished deciding.

“Since when do you like chocolate?” I ask.

His grumpy expression is pointed at Hadley. “It’s been her favourite since she was a kid. And one is never enough.”

Hadley tries to hide the warmth that spreads through her, but her eyes soften and her lips can’t fight the small smile desperate to break through. “I had to have the chocolate because he would always gobble the vanilla. I bet he still likes vanilla.”

I shake my head at her relentless teasing. “I want a red velvet.”

---