Page 112 of Trial of Thorns
“You killed my brother,” I remind us both, decision made. Illusion shattered. It’s the wet blanket I need to pull my body out of this spiral of need.
Her eyes are soft as she meets mine. Her sadness exposed in a way I’ve never seen. “Yes,” she whispers.
“Are you even sorry?” I ask, mostly because the look in her eyes tells me she is. Which surprises me.
She opens her mouth to speak but then closes it and reconsiders.
“Yes.” She pauses, and I wait, watching the pain so obvious on her face. “If you think you hate me more than I hate myself, you’re wrong.”
I suck in a small breath. “Why do you hide that?” Why show the world this mask of indifference?
“Because it wouldn’t change anything.”
I swallow.She killed my brother. In cold blood. Even if he did those things to her that I saw in the last trial—he was still mybrother.
“Why?” The harsh word slips from my lips before I can take it back. I don’t know that I really want to know. I don’t know if I want to have the image of my brother—strong and brave and good—shattered. And the image of Caelynn—cruel and calculating and manipulative—changed.
She shakes her head. “You don’t want to know the answer to that question.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. And I’m thankful she’s wise enough to realize it too.
Caelynn
Holy shit, my bodyis on fire. I can hardly manage to keep my muscles in place, to stop my hands from roving over his sculpted body. I can feel him pressed against me. Only a few layers of clothing stand between us.
No, there are worlds between Rev and me. Physically, sure, we could remove the clothes and give our bodies what they’re thirsting for, but what good would that do? I’d only want more. I’d only be giving myself false hope.
Still, the tension in his body tells me he’s moments from snapping. And one move from him would have me unravelling. It’s a bad idea, terrible, horrible. But if he gave me a yes, I know I couldn’t stop myself.
Then he reminds us both of why we can never be together. He reminds me what I gave up all those years ago. My stomach sinks, veins going cold. Heart growing hard.
They’re gone, a whisper tells me.
I take in a long breath, pulling my armor over my heart. “We can go now.” Even in a whisper, my voice still breaks. He backs out first, eyes lingering on me, but I refuse to meet his.
“You’re doing it now,” he tells me.
