Page 94 of Martyr
“Artemis,” Vittoria says softly. “I don’t know if Gabriel can change.”
“What?”
“He has had a long time to become this version of him.” She keeps talking so gently, it’s making it worse. “Why do you think Lyssa wants to see him? She knew him in Terror—that’s it. They trauma-bonded. And when she didn’t wake up, it broke him. Sometimes, things just can’t be fixed.”
Things, like people.Things, like Gabriel’s mental state.
I was in Terror, too. I was just as lost and afraid as he was.
What if I fell in love in Terror?
My attention shifts to Reese, and my heart skips a beat.
What if Reese fell asleep and never woke up? What if it was Antonio’s fault? Would I have blamed him? Would I have?—
Reese grabs my hand and squeezes tightly, like he can hear exactly what I’m thinking.
“I believe in him,” Reese says to Vittoria. “He’s done horrible things, I truly understand that.”
He’s a victim of Gabriel.
So is Antonio.
Kade.
Saint.
Me.
I absently rub the crook of my elbow. The desire for heroin is always there, but I’ve been getting better at tuning it out. Right now, it’s a screaming need. I want to take it and get the hell out of my own head. I don’t want to be in charge, I don’t want tothink.
“Everyone is worth saving,” Apollo murmurs. “No one’s soul is that far gone. Not when they were so kind in the face of everything that happened to them.”
“I remember Gabriel when he came out of Terror,” Wolfe says. “He never left Lyssa’s side, but he was…”
Kora’s expression turns sad.
“He wasn’t crazy,” Wolfe continues. “He wasn’t full of hate or anger. Afteryears. That has to count for something, doesn’t it?”
“The boy in Terror was gentle.” Antonio takes his wife’s hand and rubs her knuckles. “He didn’t deserve his fate—none of it.”
“Putting Lyssa’s life in danger should not be up for debate.” Vittoria’s voice is firm. “I stood by as you brought thatmonsterinto this house, Artemis. Please don’t make me do it again.”
A lump forms in my throat. I’ve never seen kind, sweet Vittoria this upset. She sits tall in her chair, her mouth set in a firm line. She watched her husband come back from agony. He barely survived Gabriel. And, on some level, I understand her stance.
I just don’t agree with it.
“It’ll be Lyssa’s choice,” Reese says. “Tem and I will go, we’ll just ask her if she wants to see him again. She says no, we come back without her.”
I nod quickly.
My brother grimaces. “Okay. When?”
Reese and I exchange a look.
“I need a few hours of sleep,” I admit. “We’ve been up all night.”
Jace chokes on his coffee.
