Page 82 of Soul of Thorns
“They say... they say you’re manipulating me. They say you’re the real villain.”
I swallow, my pace slowing, but I don’t dare stop. I don’t know if I could begin anew if I were to halt my movement.
If I stop, I really have abandoned Rev. And that is one thing I will never do.
“And do you believe that?”
“No,” I whisper.
The pressure over my mind releases in an instant. It wasn’t mine, I realize—the rage.
“What else?” he prompts.
Your mate is suffering. Did you know? Would you like to feel his pain?
Breath leaves my lungs, and I stumble. Keep going, I chant to myself. Keep going.
You are bad for him, always have been.
It’s better if you die.
“That Rev is suffering. And it’s my fault.”
The wraith doesn’t immediately respond. “You didn’t tell me why you made that choice.”
“The spell book. It’s my leverage.”
“Ahh. Do you intend to trade it?”
My lungs burn. My skin burns as the smoke grows thicker, so do the voices. So heavy it’s hard to make out any of them. All for the better.
“I don’t know,” I admit, teeth clenched, feet still pounding over the loose rubble. I almost slip as the gravel rolls under my feet. Keep moving. Keep going. “I only know,” I stop to pant, lungs burning for oxygen, “that the Night Bringer wanted me to chase after Rev. I’m tired of following his plan.”
“Follow what you believe, Caelynn.” That’s his advice. “You are strong. You are smart. You are capable. If anyone could win this chess game, it’s you.”
My chest tightens because I don’t know that I believe him. I’ve made so many mistakes. I’m stubborn. I’m narrow-minded. I feel so foolish much of the time.
I just don’t care what people think. I don’t even care what I think, not anymore.
I’ve always believed what they said about me—murderer, betrayer, villain—it’s just... there wasn’t another option. I did what I had to.
I am bad. I am dark and foolish and stubborn and heartless. But I am those things for a reason. I am those things to serve a purpose.
To save him.
And that is what I will do now. I will continue to fight for Rev with every breath in my lungs.
