Page 88 of A Song of Air
Bryson pulled her hands away from his, dropping them to her stomach. “Ev...”
When she didn’t speak, when she could only look at him, Ev’s expression immediately twisted into one of disgust. He took a step back, shaking his head.
“Bryson...”
“Ev, just... just give me a minute to think, okay?” She hated that her voice trembled. That everyone around them was witness to it. Even Arlo, who had come out of his tent to see what the sudden commotion was about.
She hated that he would be witness to a conversation that should have been private.
“No, Bryson. Either you’re with us or not.”
Weylyn chuckled, deep and low in his throat at those words. Ev slashed a daring glare his way before his eyes settled back on Bryson.
“It’s not that simple, Ev,” she whispered, voice weak.
“Like fuck it’s not.”
“Ev, my mother fought for the Seelie crown. She... she would want me to go. To do this.”
And by Mana, Bryson couldn’t stand the look of betrayal that carved into Ev’s face right then. The anger followed quickly. It was expected, and still she flinched when he snarled at her.
“What does it matter who the fuck your mother fought for? The Seelie crown put everyone into this fucking mess. Look where it got your mother, your family. They’re dead, Bryson. What does it fucking matter?”
The words were like a blow to her chest. She staggered back, away from Everette. He must have realized exactly what he said, because a brief flash of remorse fell over him before he masked his expression once again.
“Foolish, pathetic human male,”Weylyn’s voice whispered into her mind.“Come with us, little mate.”
“I—I don’t know if I can.”
Hetsked a sound of annoyance.“You can. Do not refuse us this. Not for him. Not for Arlo. If you choose this, choose because it is what you want.”
“I don’t know what I want.”
“There are too many voices in your head, little mate.”
“Then get the fuck out!”
She shook her head wildly from side to side, as if that could expel Weylyn from the recesses of her deepest, darkest thoughts, though she was afraid he’d already seen and analyzed everything. Every decision, every doubt, every bit of anger... He knew what lived inside her already.
“I can’t believe you’d say that to me,” she said aloud. “Everette, I...” She shook her head, feeling the turmoil through her entire body. But it was decided. She’d already decided what she’d wanted to say. If her own betrayal to him hadn’t been the end, then those words were.
She’d betrayed him first, yes, but she’d also asked him to cease his anger, his disrespect. The insult he’d just hurled at her, at her mother, those words? They would live with her forever.
They would be what broke them.
“Everette, I can’t do this anymore.” She stepped further away from him. She was aware it was a cowardly thing to do, to pull away just so she couldn’t see the details of the expression he would wear. Lest it break her heart all over again. “I can’t. Not anymore.”
He followed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean us, Everette. We... we can’t be together anymore. We’re done.”
There was a bated breath of silence. Everyone was looking. Everyone was listening. Everyone was witness to what she’d wanted to keep hidden.
“No.” Ev’s voice cracked. “Bryson,no.”
“I’m sorry, Ev. This is how it has to be.”
“Like hell.”
