Page 90 of Burning Your Lies

“Stop it.” My chest rises and falls. “Let go of me.”

“You’re not alone.”

“Yes, I am!” I scream so loud he flinches. I use that split second to escape from him and climb off the bed. “Where were you? Where have you been? In a moment of anger and hurt, youbrokeit all. I made a mistake, Hux! And my punishment was greater than you will ever know. Where have you been? When I woke in terror, where were you? When I made it home for dinner every single night, where were you? Don’t stand there and tell me I’m not alone! Because you weren’t there! Not when Ineededyou. Not when Mia and Jordan begged for their life! Not when he handed me the gun and forced me to choose. Where were you when Jordan’s cries stopped from the bullet I fired? Where were you when he shot Mia after promising to save her? Where were you?”

True to his nature, Huxley says nothing. He stands immobile in the room as I dare him to stand by his earlier statement. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, a few silent minutes later.

“You made it clear you wanted no part of this.”

“Thisis different,” he seethes. “You should have told me they were dead!”

“I shouldn’t have had to tell you! How could you not see that I was crumbling? I have spent the last two weeks barely keeping it together.”

“I thought … I thought…” He shakes his head. “He’s going to pay.” There’s a swirl of anger and something else mixed with the amber in his eyes.

I take a second to realise itsheartbreak. Huxley is hurting. He looks around the room as if he can’t comprehend the truth. I wasn’t expecting so much emotion to brim in eyes. But then I realise how much time he spent with them while I was in thathome. This started with the three of them. Huxley spent hours upon hours with Mia and Jordan to kick start this plan. And somewhere along the way, he began to care for them.

“You’re not going to do anything,” I warn.

His storm is directed at me. “Like hell, I’m not!”

“There’s no proof. And let’s not forget thatI’mthe one that shot Jordan.”

“Are you going to let him get away with this?”

I shake my head. “No. But I need to be smarter than him. He’s riding on hubris right now. And I’m going to let him. Because soon his arrogance will only be a memory.”

“I’m sorry, Sav.”

Unable to tolerate anymore heartache, I brush it off. “I don’t want to talk about it. This changes nothing. I will respect your wishes and keep you out of this.”

“I don’t want that.”

I look at Huxley.Reallylook at him. There’s a desperation in him I haven’t seen in him before. His shoulders are bared back and his hands rigid, almost as if he’s forcing himself to stay back. There’s no denying that I love him. I want a life with him after this, but who knows what the future holds.

“And I can’t handle the pain of you walking away from me again. Twice I have begged you, Hux. And both times you let me down.”

“This is different.”

I nod. “You’re right, because this time I won’t ask you to stay. I won’t beg again. I’ll slay the dragon myself, even if it means I burn, too.”

41

Savannah

I have never beeninside Basileus while it’s been vacant. The black walls seem darker despite it being daylight outside. My footsteps echo in the empty room. I follow the path Huxley and Xavier took when they were swept away to a private game. The theme of dark and broody follows through to the back corridor that leads off into various rooms.

The door at the end opens and Rowan appears with a charming smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” He holds the door open for me.

His office is a large room that only houses a desk and a chair on either side. I search for anything notable about the mysterious man, but find nothing. No frames or ornaments display his wealth. Rowan Ashford is a man who keeps everything hidden, and that is about to help me.

I take a deep breath and search for the courage to take this step. I question if there’s another option, but realise there isn’t. I must become the person Xavier can’t be anymore. “Nice to see you, Rowan.”

His legs are crossed as he watches me with amusement. “Where’s your bodyguard?”

My gaze falls into my wedding rings before I match his confidence. “This is more of a private conversation.”

He hums. “Conversation or business transaction?”

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