Page 112 of Iris' Lying Eyes

“No. Calm down,” he says, pushing me into the room.

Backing away, I refuse to look at the evidence of his treachery. Regardless, I can’t fucking breathe as I pant, “What did you do?”

Surveying me carefully, Bastion holds out his hand, but I shake my head and he runs it over his bald head instead. “Iris.”

“You’re a liar. You’re a goddamn liar,” I scream.

His eyes drop to the floor before his mouth firms. “Please, calm the fuck down.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Well, fuck off. You wanted my attention; you have it, but don’t bother with more fucking lies.”

I was stupid to believe him. So fucking stupid.

“Where is he? Where?” No sooner do the words leave my lips, I’m rushing him, but he grabs me up and spins me around until my back is pressed against his chest.

“Who is Sam, Iris?” He asks, and I slump, biting the sob on my lips.

I won’t cry because if I do, I’m admitting he’s gone. And I won’t fucking do that until I absolutely have to.

“Who? Fuck, Iris. Who is he?”

“She is he. He is she,” I mumble before a laugh escapes me.

“She? He? What are you saying?” He growls, shaking me.

“Do you have Sam or not? Please, B. Please,” I plead, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Slowly he shakes his head, his eyes dropping to regret, and a laugh bubbles in my chest, but it’s born of hysteria, and it burns.

I thought it was me who would bring the end, but Bastion beat me to it. How dare he?

I slam my fist into his chest before clutching his shirt. “You’re a fucking liar. Lies.”

“Me? Who’s Sam, Iris?” He barks as though I’m the one who needs to be checked. Fucker.

“I couldn’t save our child, you fucker, but I could save Sam,” I holler, feeling no satisfaction when he staggers back.

From beyond the room, I hear Jig say, “Oh shit.”

“How the fuck is that possible?” he growls, grabbing for my arm, but I pull away, batting at my cheeks.

“You never had him, did you?”

His dark expression is answer enough, but still, he slowly shakes his head. “Iris—”

“This is on you. You. Do you know what I’ve done? Do you—”

Covering my mouth, I stare at him. He searches my gaze before his brow crinkles. “What the fuck does that mean? Iris, do you hear how you sound?”

Sneering, I point, the bitter burn of hate boiling my veins. “They took her, you dick. They sold her . . .”

He stumbles back, color leaching from his face. I can’t look into his lying eyes any longer and I move to brush past him as he says, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

The question makes me pause in the threshold where five pairs of wide eyes glitter in disbelief and I say to no one in particular, “And what? Admit that I couldn’t…protect…”

My chest clenches painfully and I suck in air before pushing the infernal fucking pain aside and searching out Alice. When I meet her blue eyes, I rasp, “Did you lie about before?”

She bows her head. “No, of course not.”

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