Page 12 of Sophie's Ruin
“Words spoken out of rage,” he admitted, as his forest-green eyes softened just a fraction. “I know you’re different. You’ve given up so much for the humans.”
“And now you want me to give up my life?”
“You were willing to do it before.”
“But now I have something worth living for.”
“And you didn’t before?” He tilted his head, looking at me incredulously.
“Of course I did, but–”
“But now you have Henry,” he finished for me.
I hoped I still had him. Would I know if he’d met his demise? Would I have felt it in my heart if he’d been killed?
I should have told him,I thought, as the last look he’d given me flashed through my mind.But I didn’t, and now it might be too late.
Despair surged, threatening to sweep me under, but before it could, I heard shuffling footsteps coming from inside the house. Spinning around from Waylon, I yanked open the front door to find Isabelle on the other side. Our gazes locked just as she started to crumple to the ground. I caught her before she could collapse.
“Henry?” I asked, staring into her wide eyes, which were still mostly black with hunger.
I knew my own eyes were pleading with her to tell me what I wanted to hear…neededto hear.
“He lives,” she rasped, clutching my forearms for support. “But they have him. The clans took him.”
A strangled cry tore from my throat as my legs buckled, and I went down to my knees, dragging Isabelle with me. WhenWaylon rushed to our side, I shook my head, refusing his help. I needed this, and Isabelle did, too. We latched on to each other, sharing in our anguish about Henry and the dread and uncertainty about our future. It seemed holding on to each other was the only thing preventing us from falling apart. I began to tremble as tears spilled, running down my face. They were tears of relief because Henry was alive, but they were also tears of sorrow because the clans had him. They’d taken him to lure me out, I was sure of it. I had something they wanted, so they’d taken something I wanted—someoneI couldn’t live without.
“I should have told him,” I whispered, as a ragged sob escaped me.
Understanding washed over Isabelle’s blood-covered face.
“I think he knows,” she said low, her dark gaze flicking over my features. “Find solace in that.”
I gave a small shake of my head. “Even if he knows, I should have told him. He deserved to hear it from me.”
“Then tell him when you see him again,” Isabelle whispered, her eyes soft.
She’d never looked at me like that before, with empathy and compassion.
“We have to go after him,” I declared, as I rose to my feet, bringing Isabelle with me.
She swayed where she stood but managed to stay up.
“You can’t,” Celeste said, rising from the chair she’d been occupying.
“What?” I swung my head to look at her.
“You are part White Witch, Sophie. Listen to the world around you. What is it saying?”
“I don’t care what it’s saying,” I snarled. “I’m going after Henry.”
“That’s not what you’re supposed to do, and you know it,” Celeste said calmly.
“She’s right,” Isabelle chimed in.
My head snapped back to her, and the look I gave her must have been scathing because she staggered back away from me. She grasped the doorframe for support, but held my gaze.
“Henry is my brother, and I love him. I want to save him just as much as you do, but we have to be smart about this. It’s us against the clans. The odds are not in our favor.”
