Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I knew it was a risk, but he was my best chance, and if the FEA knew where my mother was, they’d expect me to go there at some point anyway. Devon hovered near the bumper, uncertainty playing on his face. His left arm was pressed against his chest; moving it probably still hurt.
Alec shook his head. “Tess, please, listen to me. Abel’s Army is hunting you. They’re extremely dangerous. They are the enemy. You’ll get yourself killed. Please trust me, just one more time. I understand that you’re angry with me, and you have every right to be, but I swear I’m just trying to look out for you.” His voice was like a caress.
I wanted to go over to him and bury my face in the crook of his neck, breathe in his scent and rain kisses down on his scar. I pushed against the emotion, not sure if it came from within me or if Alec was manipulating me again.
“When I said I loved you, I didn’t lie. I never lied about my emotions for you. I love you. And I know you love me too.”
Something snapped in me. “Maybe a stupid part of me still does. But let me tell you this: It doesn’t matter because I don’t listen to that crazy part anymore. You only care about the FEA. It will always be more important to you than I or anyone else could be. That isn’t what love is about, Alec. And you know what? Your parents were right.”
He tensed but I didn’t stop.
“I bet you loved manipulating them, making them doubt their emotions until they were sure they were losing their mind, just like you did with me. I bet you enjoyed it even as a young boy. No wonder that they couldn’t stand your presence. Nobody likes being manipulated and violated. If I’d been in their stead, I would have wanted to get away from you too.”
I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. Now I finally had proved that I was my mother’s daughter—just as cruel and careless with my words. I was turning into her; I’d hurt Alec where I knew it would sting the most.
Alec turned his face to the side, leaving me to stare at his profile. He swallowed hard, his jaw tense and throat flexing. I wanted to apologize. I wanted for us to forgive each other for the past. I wanted to let him take me back to headquarters and to live a life full of happy lies. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t. That part of my life was over. Forever. Alec and I could never be together. He was on the FEA’s side, would always be. They didn’t have my best interests in mind. I was on a mission and I had a job to do. And in order to do it, I had to forget him and the FEA for good.
There was nothing left to say. I whirled around, ready to go back to the car but Alec spoke up. “I know where your mother is,” he said quietly.
I stopped and slowly, afraid of seeing his face, I turned back to face him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper. He held the snippet out to me, his face closed off. After a moment of hesitation, I walked toward him. Devon shifted on his feet, as though he was preparing to interfere if Alec tried to grab me. It was useless, of course. Alec was stronger than the two of us together. If he wanted to abduct me, nobody could stop him. But he looked so defeated, I didn’t think the thought had even entered his mind. My guilt tasted like acid on my tongue.
I stopped two arm’s lengths away from Alec and reached out for the paper. Our fingers brushed and my eyes snapped up to meet his gray ones. There was too much sadness in them. Tears sprang into my eyes but I didn’t allow them to fall. I’d cried so often because of Alec in the past. That time was over. I snatched the paper from his hand and took a few steps back.
“It’s because of him, isn’t it?” Alec said.
I followed his gaze toward Devon who was watching us with confusion. Alec thought I’d left because of Devon?
“You still don’t get it, do you? I left because of you. You once told me you’d do anything for me. And it was the same for me. I’d have given my life to save yours. I’d have done anything, absolutely anything for you. But then I found out how you’d betrayed me. I was stupid. I knew I’d never be able to forgive you.”
Devon looked more than a little uncomfortable, but I was glad that he hadn’t tried to interject. This was between Alec and me.