Page 117 of Eternal

“It’s fine.” I wave Jase off, walking away.

My steps get faster the farther I go, and when I see Declan leave the game from the corner of my eye, I quicken my pace.

I don’t know who to trust, what’s real, or who might be lying to me.

“Teal.” It’s Declan calling for me this time.

The forest is starting to spin. The stars shine like orbs in the darkness, screaming as loud as the voices in my head. I’m scratching my forearm when a hand grabs me.

“Don’t.” I pull away, my heart racing.

“What did that asshole say to you?” Declan spins me to face him, and his tone is deadly.

“Nothing.” I try to walk away again, but he stops me, stepping in front of me this time.

“Teal—”

“He said your father is using the fact that you’re dating me to shake my father down for campaign money. Is that a lie?”

Declan’s jaw clenches as he shakes his head.

Part of me thought he’d reassure me or, at the very least, lie to me so I wouldn’t have to doubt us. I should have known he’s just one more person who thinks I’mtoo weak to handle it. Who is using the fact that I’m impressionable against me.

“So you were helping him all along?” I pull away from him.

“Not exactly.”

“Did you know about the deal your father made with mine or not?” I ask. “Did you know he was using me?”

Declan stands up tall. “I knew.”

“How long?”

His teeth clench, and he’s so quiet I hear birds chirping in the night.

“How long, Declan?” I’m yelling now.

“Since the night we showed up together at your father’s house.”

Swallowing my anger, I roll my shoulders back. “Did you know your father promised mine that you’d break up with me once he did what he was told?”

Declan nods.

“Of course you did.” I shake my head, digging my nails into my scalp. “You could have just left this as blackmail. Let me hate you and muddled through it. You didn’t have to pretend to care just to fuck with my head.”

“Teal—”

“What am I? One of your sick trials? Some test you need to pass as Sigma House President? Or worse, a game you’re playing just for the fun of it?” I cut him off, stepping back. “You almost had me fooled. Declan Pierce with a heart? Iaminsane.”

Turning away, the world spins around me.

How could I have let myself trust Declan? There’s nothing redeemable about a man who has made it his life’s mission to put me through hell. He hacked my secrets. He used them against me. He proved to be exactly who I thought he was.

Again.

“Teal, listen to me.” I hear him behind me, but I don’t stop.

If anything, I pick up pace, rushing away from the yard and around the house. I don’t know where I’m going, just that I need to leave. I can’t exist in this fake world they all create. A world of make-believe when it’s already hard enough to see what’s real and what’s imaginary.

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