Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
I know Landon is adamant that Sebastian will come out victorious, but Liam doesn’t know about my brother’s mysterious plan…unless the chancellor does know—just like he knew my next move on the chess board before I did.
Sidestepping the deep end of that dangerous subject, I wave my hand around the room. “After this, they’ll kick you out for sure.”
“They’ll have to find us first.”
Us. Because in his mind, there’s still an us. Unable to speak, I watch as he pulls the promised crackers from a cupboard.
“You need to eat something,” he says.
I don’t think I can eat—not with his words ricocheting in my mind. It’s hard to believe I’m free of the Brotherhood. Harder still to believe I have one captor now instead of twelve. But the thought of never seeing Sebastian again burns with the agony of a thousand knives, and I have no choice but to ask the question Liam doesn’t want to hear.
“What if I want to go back?” As soon as the words spill from my mouth, I realize how insane they sound. There’s nothing but pain and degradation awaiting in that tower…and yet I can’t help but hope the fierce lion who stole my heart will return from exile soon.
“Why would you want to go back?” On the surface, Liam’s question is a simple one. A logical one. But underneath his tone, a trace of hurt resides.
He knows why.
We both do.
The truth thrives on the silence between us as I nibble on a tasteless cracker. He turns his back to me, his sudden fixation on the windows telling me what he doesn’t—that he can’t bear to look at me.
“I know you love him,” he says, his voice thick and raspy with the pain he tries to hide for my sake.
“I care about you too.” My lashes flutter, holding back the evidence of the ache in my chest.
“Not in the same way.”
I’m not sure how to feel anymore, especially during moments like these, when the shards of Liam’s heartache bloodies my soul. He’s made mistakes, even done things that border on the unforgivable, and yet…
He’s always protected me, even when I didn’t want him to.
“Liam...” As tears burn my eyes, I stare down at my hands. “I love—” My voice cracks, saving me from making a hopeless declaration. Because I do love them both, but in very different ways. Liam is the concrete foundation keeping me on my feet, and Sebastian is the wild vines growing through the cracks, endangering my foothold.
As if he senses my quiet turmoil, Liam crouches in front of me, cradling my face with one hand. “Don’t cry. God, I can’t help myself when you cry.”
“I want to go back.” My tears fall with a bitter plea, those salty drops torturing his wounds. “I know hearing this hurts you—”
“Then don’t say it.” He tangles his fingers in my hair. “I know how you feel about him, but I think you love me too. I want a fair chance…just try, my sweet girl.”
“Try?”
“Try to think of us anywhere in the world, laughing and loving and free.” Closing his eyes, he rests his forehead against mine. “I can be what you need.”
“I know you can.”
“Then let me.”
“Too much has happened…too much has changed.” I’ve changed, the fabric of my soul weaving a new existence. How can anyone come back from the things I’ve experienced? It’s not something I can erase by running away, no matter how much the weaker part of me wants to forget and find freedom.
But gaining freedom means letting go of Sebastian, and the thought of never seeing him again terrifies me more than facing a month under the rule of Pax.
“It’s not that simple.” I shake my head. “I can’t turn off the way I feel.”
Liam stands, his disappointment palpable. “We’ve both changed, but the connection between us hasn’t. I’m selfish enough to fight for you.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets, and for the first time, I realize he’s wearing jeans. It’s such a foreign look on him—a cunning style used to trick the world into believing he’s harmless when, in fact, he’s declared war on my heart.
“Why did you vote to keep him in the auction?” I stare at his towering form through my tears. “You gave me hope—” My voice breaks again, and I clear my throat. “You’re not taking me back, are you?”
“After the month of Libra is over,” he says, pausing with an air of reluctance, “if you still want to go back to the tower…to him…then I’ll accept it.”
“What?” My lashes flutter as I process an answer I couldn’t have foreseen. “You’ll take me back?”
“Under one condition.” Looking down at me, he clasps his hands behind his back. Despite the denim encasing his legs, he’s no less commanding than when he wears a tailored suit.