Page 51 of Curse of Thorns
He needs to get inside the Schorchedlands or lose his inheritance. Lose his place in his own court. Lose his chance to be High King.
And his father already said he’d do anything to make sure I’m never pardoned. And I believe him. There’s so much still hanging over my head. The chances of being together with all of this between us are so small it’s hardly visible.
I’m not Cinderella. Not a princess. Not the hero. I will never have my happily ever after.
But there are some things I can achieve. I can give Rev what he needs to achieve his true destiny—become the savior of the realm and High King.
All he has to do is hate me again, and he can have it all. He can enter the Schorchedlands and become the hero he’s meant to be.
He and I... we’ve always been doomed. So, maybe I can choose him again. Maybe I can play this role that I’ve become so good at one more time, and I can give him everything that he needs.
Hate me, Rev. I’m sorry, but you have to hate me.
“It’s true,” I say, my voice still wobbly. But I pull in all my determination and push away all the pain. “They found me laughing over his body.”
Rev’s jaw drops, and I hate myself. His darkened eyes fill with tears, even as his jaw clenches. Already, I see the old Rev. The Rev at the beginning of the trials that vowed to kill me. Cruel and wounded.
That’s the Rev that will save us all.
But I hate it. I hate every second of it.
“I loved it,” I say, my voice steadier now, though my heart trembles, my soul crumbles inside. I just have to hide it from him. “Reahgan was an arrogant dick that deserved what he got.”
Rev jerks back like I slapped him.
“I laughed because it felt good. Ending his life. Watching his lips go blue. I’d do it again if given the chance, and I’d enjoy it just as much.”
My eyes flash to Rev’s father, who is one part appalled, one part pleased. He, unlike me, enjoys Rev’s pain. My focus is still on the Luminescent King when Rev charges me.
He screams in agony but finds only smoke as I twist away and disappear into shadow. The phantoms reach down and clasp me, welcoming me into their arms, and I join them in the smoke hovering above the room.
Now, I look down at them all, like this is really a show. It’s a scene playing out and not my life. It’s only pretend, my heart shattering.
Dark and comforting magic keeps me hidden. I wonder if I could stay here forever. Just like I’d hoped I could stay in the Whisperwood for the rest of my life. No one would find me here. They’d think I’d just vanished. Ran away.
Rev falls to his knees where I had just stood, chest heaving. Part of me hopes he’d seen through my act. He’s seen me. The real me.
His father stalks toward him and squats, leaning down to his ear. “You always were a fool, Reveln,” he whispers loudly. “And now, a complete failure. It will be easy to disinherit you now that you’re the failed savior.” He chuckles and retreats from the room, leaving Rev on his hands and knees.
He stays there, hands clenched in his hair, unmoving, for another full minute as I grapple with the intense desire to drop down and comfort him. Beg him to forgive me. Explain to him all of it, tell him I lied—I didn’t relish Reahgan’s death, and I certainly don’t relish his pain now.
Finally, Rev stands and marches from the room.
I hop down from my hiding place with the phantoms. Shadowy arms reach out for me, and I sigh.
“I know,” I whisper. “I’m—” putting on a show. Playing a part. And for the rest of my life, I’ll be a phantom. “Just like you.”
