Page 154 of The Forgotten Queen
“You must be happy you’re home.”
Seran glanced around. “I’m getting used to it.”
“And your memories? Have they been coming back?”
“Enough.” Her lips lifted. “I remembered meeting Palmer. He said that everything good about him came from you.”
His eyes filled with tears. “He said that?”
She nodded. “He looked up to you a lot.”
Marx smiled. “I guess we looked up to each other. And, what about your headaches? I’ve been worried about you.”
“You were the one in prison, and you were worried about me?”
He raised his shoulders. “I had a lot of time to think. So put me out of my misery. Tell me how the headaches are.”
“I’m taking them day by day, but the doctor believes they are caused by withdrawals from the drug and are hopeful they will stop soon.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Marx rubbed the back of his neck. He’d stalled long enough. “Seran, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who you were the moment I found out. I wanted to be sure, to talk to my father, but I was an idiot, and I made a huge mess of everything.”
“I was hurt,” she said, looking down. “I thought you were the one person on my side, and then it felt like you weren’t on my side anymore. Like I was all alone again.”
“I’ll always be on your side.” Marx wanted to reach for her hand, but he didn’t. He’d lost that privilege.
“Are you leaving now?” she asked.
“I have no reason to stay.”
No reason because Seran didn’t love him back.
“Besides,” he said, “if I stay too long, your father might try to kill me again.”
Her lips fell to a frown. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s no big deal. I’d always wanted to see what the New Hope Government Center prison cells were like.”
She laughed. “They’re actually really terrible.”
“Eh, they’re not that bad. I’m thinking about making them my summer vacation spot.”
Another puff of laughter escaped her lips.
He would miss her light laughter. He’d miss everything about her. She might as well know it.
“I’m going to miss you,” he confessed.
She bit her lip. “I’m going to miss you too.”
Part of him was happy that she would miss him, like he wasn’t the only one who’d formed real feelings.
“You’re welcome in Cristole anytime you want to visit,” he said, though he doubted she ever would.
“Same in New Hope.”
Marx hated leaving things like this. He didn’t want to say goodbye. He’d almost died five minutes ago and because of that, his courage was at an all-time high. He wanted to tell her that he loved her and see if the reason she’d saved him was becausemaybeshe had feelings for him too. But he couldn’t say all that. She was finally home. From the day he’d met her, this was all she had wanted. He’d promised to set her free, and right now, that meant letting her go. She was where she was meant to be. She belonged in New Hope, and he belonged in Cristole. They’d go their separate ways and live out separate futures. That’s all they could do. Their make-believe life was the happiest time Marx had ever had, but it was over now. He had to give her up.
He swallowed back the emotion rising up his throat, but it didn’t help. Despite his efforts, his eyes filled with tears again. “Can I at least hug you?”
