Scorch (Virtues & Lies 2)

“You can have your husband and your justice.”

Justice.

Everyone keeps going on about it, but it’s unattainable.

“There’s nothing to think about. It’s an easy decision. Christopher needs you to be strong. You’re the only one that can protect him from himself.”

His words smother me. I can’t breathe. I can’t think.

The numbness is gone, and I just feel.

My body crumples beneath the weight of my failure as his stare bores into mine.

My heart tells me no.

Don’t walk away.

Don’t lock him out.

My head tells me yes.

Save him.

Make it right.

You’ll need to fight…no matter the cost.

The price we pay is always the greatest.

The one with the most power to destroy our world.

Can you endure?

Do you love him?

I’m slowly suffocating inside myself. My body aches with every scream and bellow of my mind. Round and round until I’m not sure of all that’s being echoed. Until I’m so dizzy that empty retches pull from the pit of my stomach.

“You said you wanted to make it right,” my father says. “I’m giving you the chance.”

My body aches. My head hurts. My heart rattles in pieces.

Why isn’t he here? Why did he leave me?

Because you broke him.

You failed him.

The role of the queen is to protect the king.

Are you a worthy queen, child?

It’s his grandmother’s words that do it. Her words push me over the edge. I can hear them as though she’s beside me, holding my hand, as I watch my world drown.

The price we pay is always the greatest.

Are you a worthy queen, child?

“Do you want to fix this?”