Page 61 of Sweetheart: Part Two

What if she saw what I was, and wanted to run. But then… I wasn’t going to lose her. Love would bite her no matter what, the dark bond on her neck meant she would ask for that, no matter what I was.

If she became frightened of me, we could return to pretence. I could treat her like a princess until she forgot the monster beneath.

“Alright,” I said, realising too long had passed between us.

She frowned, shifting beneath me, clearly unsure. I released her, getting up. She got to her feet too, looking a bit shaky, but I caught her before she could leave.

“You said you wanted this, Vex, so let me start with this. Tell me who took you from your home.”

“What?” Her eyes were wide, darting between mine.

“I said—” I took her chin, forcing her to look up at me, my words absolutely sure. “—Who took you from your home?”

SIXTEEN

LOVE

Something changed in Vex the next morning.

I woke to find her and Drake huddled at the windowsill, staring at something I couldn’t make out.

“I don’t think it’s a potato, I think it’s a—” Drake cut off as he noticed me hurrying over.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Vex has gifts,” Drake said.

“Gifts?” I asked. She turned to me, and I almost drew up with surprise at the look in her eyes. She was glowing. I stifled a moment of irrational jealousy.

“Gifts from Drake?” I asked.

It had to be.

No way would any of the rest of us get a reaction like that—

“Ebony,” Drake said, shooting me a look that told me he was just as confused as I was. Vex had already turned back around, examining the line of peculiar things.

I followed her gaze, taking in the four objects lined up on her windowsill.

A crystal swan.

A print of a single eye, and behind it were black and white swirls like an optical illusion.

A pitch-black choker with a lock dangling from it.

But the last was the oddest of all. It was… I leaned closer. It was familiar. It resembled a potato, but it was a brown sack, stuffed full and tied off at the bottom. On it, a terrified, frown was scribbled on with a sharpie and it had two small buttons for eyes.

“I don’t get it,” Drake said.

“It’s a chia pet.” I knew that with certainty. “We made them when we were kids—stuff little sacks full of soil and chia seeds, then water them every day. They grow chia grass for hair. Our nanny made Ebony make one, and he drew a face on it just like that.” I nodded toward the one on the sill.

“So… I have to water it?” Vex asked.

“Once a day or something like that.”

Vex nodded, scrambling to her feet and making for the bathroom. I was left to exchange a very confused look with Drake.

“She’s… different,” I said.

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