Page 24 of Midnight Sanctuary

No.I will not be sucked into that black hole again. It may feel like heaven for a few seconds, but I know now that it’s a trap.

So I release her, pushing her off me so that she stumbles back a few paces.

“Please see that, Uri,” she begs as her voice trembles. “I care about getting Polly back just as much as you do. I need you to believe that that’s the truth.”

I swallow the acrid taste in my mouth. Guilt serves no purpose here. It doesn’t bring Polly back even one second sooner. So if Alyssa is torturing herself, locked down here all alone… so be it.

It’s the least she deserves.

“You’re right,” I murmur. “I can’t look at you. And starting from now… I won’t.”

I turn my back on her and start striding towards the basement door. I need distance—room to breathe, to let this cloying guilt work itself out of me. I don’t feel bad for Alyssa. I can’t. I won’t.

“Uri!”

I ignore her. She can scream for me until she’s blue in the face, but I’m not turning back. Until—

“I’m pregnant, you know.”

I freeze at the threshold. All I can hear is her words echoing in my ears, accompanied by the booming thrum of my pulse.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Then:liar.

I underestimated the little siren. She really is capable of anything. I would’ve thought that stooping this low is beyond her… but I guess I would’ve thought wrong.

I spin around slowly and walk over to her. She looks more fragile than ever, cowering in my shadow, caged between me and the wall by her bed.

“You’re lying.”

She stares up at me, blinking back tears and trying not to let me see her chin wobbling. “I’m not. I’m about thirteen weeks along. Ask Dr. Popov if you don’t believe me.”

Liar.

Pregnant.

Liar.

Pregnant.

Which one do I believe?

“I will check with the doctor,” I growl at Alyssa. “And if you’re lying, I will make you pay.”

Then I stalk out, my heart thundering in my chest.

11

ALYSSA

“I’m having you examined.”

Sighing, I swing my legs off the bed. I’m disappointed, sure. But I’ve been expecting this since Uri stormed out of the basement yesterday after I dropped the bombshell.

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