Page 89 of Burning Your Lies

I scoff at him. “You don’t love me. If you loved me, you never would have made me do that. You would have saved Mia.”

He stands up. “I gave you the choice.”

My hands push against his chest. “You shot her.”

“Because even in that moment, you chose wrong. I told you Savannah, all you had to do was choose me.”

Unable to form any words, my mouth hangs open. “You mean … I could have saved them?”

With tears streaming down my face, I struggle to catch my breath. My body heaves in desperation as I lean out the window, desperately gasping for a lifeline to calm my racing heart. I tell myself that he’s just torturing me.He’s lying. But part of me knows he’s being truthful. That last night in this house, when it was just the two of us playing chess, he promised he would not kill me. He honoured that and found a different way to silence me.

“Even when I hold the key to your happiness, you cannot see me. And that is why I will haunt you until you see me, even when I am not there. For the rest of your life, you will look over your shoulder for me. Just the mere thought of me will torment you to insanity, as you have done to me.”

“You’re insane,” I whisper. “Even after all this you still think I could want you. You’re fucking crazy!”

He playfully tuts. “Oh, come on, Miss Hayes. You promised aninvigoratinggame. One minor loss on your side, and you’ve become a misery. I’ve had more fun playing tea party with Elise than I’m having with you.” He tilts his head. “Or are the stakes too high for you?”

“You’ve made it so I have nothing to lose, Xavier. The only one the stakes are high for is you. So I would be careful. You just never know when it’s going to come crashing down.” With one last look, I open the bedroom door. My tears are still falling when I rejoin the party to grab my handbag. I ignore their stares and beeline for the front door.

My eyes sting from all the crying. I threw myself a pity party by getting into pyjamas and curling up in my bed. I know I need to snap out of it because this is what he wants. He wants to throwme off my game because I’ve been winning. But I can’t turn off my humanity as he can.

But you need to.

“Travelling?” Huxley’s voice makes me jump. “Sav?” He’s leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and an expectant look on his face. “I just asked you a question.”

This is the first time he’s spoken to me since our fight. He’s had the chance to speak to me, but he took every opportunity to ignore me. When he heard my screams, he could have come in and asked what was wrong. He could have held me. But he didn’t. So, he doesn’t get to do that now.

“Are you going to speak to me?”

“Why, Huxley? Because you’ve decided that I’m worthy to be spoken to again? Just take what you came for, and go.”

The bed dips under his weight. “I won’t ask again.”

“Just leave me alone.”

We lock eyes. I ignore my tears while he fixates on them.

“Do you really want me to go?”

“Yes,” I lie. “You’ve already left me. I’m all alone.”

“Sav…”

“Just stop!” I cry. “Just stop it. Don’t look at me like that. Don’t call my name like that. You’ve made it very clear where we stand. I don’t need you to pretend to be my protector. I don’t need you to slay my dragons. I have done it alone my whole life. And I will do the same now. So, justgo.” I turn around and collect myself.

Huxley doesn’t move for a few seconds. But when he does, his footsteps aren’t retreating. His arms wrap around my waist. “Let it out.”

I struggle against him. “Get off.”

“No.”

“Hux!”

“Let it out.”

“Let go of me!” I scream.

“No. You asked me to do that once, and I listened. I know how that story played out.”

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