Page 18 of The Sweetest Lies
“You are different, Cersia. Of course, you’re treated differently!”
This is our first real argument I think we’ve had in our entire lives, and it almost pisses me off that my sweet, kind sister is navigating it better than I am.
What the fuck.
“I’m weaker. I get it. I was given beauty, and I wanted to make up for it with physical strength. Maybe I practiced too often, and maybe I took a lot of time away from Father, but—”
Another gasp of stunned laughter has me taking a step back from the woman I considered my best friend our entire lives.
“You weren’t blessed! Oh my Goddess.” She throws her hands in the air, and it’s then that footsteps sound behind her quietly.
“I was. I was blessed to be the most beautiful woman in all the realms.”
“You are so damn full of yourself. My Goddess. You didn’t get a blessing, Cersia. And that’s when mother knew. She knew what father knew all along and she feared others would someday find out. And so, she shoved it down anyone’s throat who would listen that Cersia was the most beautiful child in all the realms.” Her eyes are damp and crazed as she frowns at me. “And if you repeat something enough to people, they too will do the same. The news of the most beautiful woman in all the realms spread like wildfire. But the truth is, she’s just a simple blonde girl with too much ego to let anyone think for a single second that she might be average.”
If my mouth could fall open any farther, it would unhinge like an old rusty part that I no longer know how to use.
And I think that might be true.
“You—you’re lying,” I whisper. But I know my own words are far more likely to be the lie. Because Nyra doesn’t lie.
Never.
Before Nyra can say more, a slender hand wraps around her hip and pulls her back against something behind her. Another hand wraps around her, and the person holds her intimately.
“Who are you talking to, love?” Vanitee whispers against my sister’s neck.
And my heart sinks even more.
It’s clear then that nothing I thought I knew was true.
Not even about myself.
Seven
Domineering
“You’ve been staringat the wall since before I woke up...” Avian shifts uneasily on his feet, and Roman takes a long look at me before he slips out the bedroom door after Zilo. Worry creases his brow, but he and I both know he doesn’t have time to pause and dwell on me any longer than he already has.
Not when there’s a shitshow kingdom—queendom—to attend to.
The door clicks closed so softly that I find myself lingering on the empty sound of it long after it’s gone.
She lost her son. Her son and her husband. All because of me. If I was her, I’d kill me. And she’s made an attempt all most every day to speak kindly to me. To show that we’re sisters above anything else.
But no matter how far down you try to push bitterness down, it always simmers back up. This morning was a showing of all those emotions she’s tried to ignore. They came crashing out with year’s worth of choked back tears.
And more secrets than I was ready for.
“Cersia,” Avian whispers.
The bed dips, and then his warm hand is against mine.
“What’s wrong?” When I finally meet his pale gray eyes, he’s searching my face for things he can’t see but most definitely can sense in mysterious ways.
“I—” I don’t know how to put it into words...
All the things come shoving thr0ugh my mind: I ruined my sister’s life. She’s sleeping with the enemy. I’m not who I thought I was. I’m not a shifter... I’m...
