Page 127 of Heir of Illusion

“Then why didn’t you fight back when that man was hitting you?” he demands as he takes a step closer.

Seeking shelter, I turn around and ignore his question as I return to my vanity. Some small voice in the back of my mind warns not to read too closely into his insinuation, afraid of what I’ll find.

I pick up my hairbrush, resuming my earlier task as if he’s not here.

“Obviously, what happened between us was a mistake if you think it entitled you to any say over my life.” My gaze meets his through the mirror as he leans against the balcony door. “You didn’t care about any of this before.”

His arms fold over his chest as he cocks his head to the side. “We both know that’s not the truth.”

“It is!” I yank the brush through my fiery waves, wincing as it catches on a tangle. “You only care now because you realized I’m the one person on this planet who can actually bear your touch!”

Genuine hurt splashes across his face, causing something ugly to twist in my gut. I instantly wish I could pull the words back into my mouth and never let them out.

I drop the hair brush as I spin around. “Thorne, I?—”

“In case it wasn’t abundantly clear,” he cuts me off, his voice low and even, “I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you.” My eyes widen at his admission, but he keeps going. “No, before that. Since you tossed that first dagger at my head. So, you don’t get to call what happened between us a mistake.” He shakes his head. “Not when we both know you’ve been craving it just as long as I have.”

I want to deny his claim, but I can’t bring myself to lie in the face of his honesty.

“And before you try to purposefully misunderstand me, I’ve never wanted anyone the way I wantyou.Before we met, I thought my…” he trails off, searching for the right word. “Conditionwas a gift. Fates” —he chuckles darkly— “I even thought it made me better than other people because it prevented me from getting distracted by petty dalliances. I never saw it as a hinderance until you. But despite all of that, I’d trade the ability to touch you ever again if it meant you would be free.”

Wetness pulls behind my eyes. No one has ever spoken to me this way, not even Baylor. I try to latch onto my fading anger from before, but it slips through my fingers.

“I’m not some weak creature you need to save.”

“Weak is never a word I’d use to describe you,” he says, his tone gentle. “But everyone needs help sometimes.”

That tiny voice in the back of my mind whispers that he might be right. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to watch out for me the way I do for others? To findmein the darkness and bemyshield. Someone I could count on. Believe in. Trust.

It would be nice.

But experience has taught me that niceties are synonymous with lies. If I let myself truly believe he cares for me, I know it would only be a matter of time before he revealed it was all fake.

I close my eyes, unable to bear the weight of his pleading gaze.

“Leave,” I beg softly.

There’s silence for a few moments before his gravelly voice reaches me. “Alright. But this isn’t the end, Angel.”

A moment later, I know he’s gone. Even without looking, I sense his absence.

I did the right thing, I tell myself as my cheeks dampen.It was for the best.

But if that’s true, why do I feel so empty?

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Hours after Thorne leaves, I find myself doing something both reckless and stupid. I clutch the handle of my oil lamp, praying the flame won’t extinguish. Maybe it’s because I’m down here in the middle of the night, but the tunnels are far creepier than before. At least I haven’t seen any bats.

Yet.

You’d think it wouldn’t matter what time it is since we’re underground, but there’s a sinister edge to the air tonight. Or perhaps it’s simply the fact that I’m down here alone. I exhale a sigh. If I hadn’t pushed Thorne away, I could have asked him to come with me.

Perhaps this is something I’m meant to do alone. A few weeks ago, when all of this started, I questioned whether the Fates were intervening in my life. Now I’m almost positive they are. Far too many coincidences have piled up. Meeting Thorne when I did and somehow being the only person who can touch him without harm? And then it turns out the missing weapon I was tasked to find just so happens to be the only thing that can remove my collar and free me from Baylor?

But if I’m right and they are interfering, why? What makes me worthy of their interest? And worst of all, I can’t help but wonder if perhaps it’s not a good thing to attract the attention of the Fates.

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