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“Was any of it real, Ruth?” He watches her carefully, like any small sign she could give him might disrupt this illusion she’s painted for us.
I find myself leaning in, too. Desperate for some truth that might soften this blow.
Ruth doesn’t look at him. Instead, she glances up at the ceiling with shame.
“Some of it was.”
And Warrose winces. I, on the other hand, scoff loudly. The sound is wet and shrill.
“So, it’s him then?” he pushes, the intent behind his question painfully clear to the rest of us.
In response, Ruth slides closer to Kaspias, enough so that he can wrap his thick arms around her upper body, molding her to his chest. And to make it so much worse, Kaspias rests his chin on top of her head, inhaling deeply with a condescending smirk.
Warrose turns away.
“Go then,” I bark, thrusting my arm out in the opposite direction. “Ride off into the sunset with him. You’ve done your job.”
“Actually,” Kaspias interrupts. “She’s still assigned to watch you. Cruel, isn’t it? Ruth is still assigned to be your cage neighbor.”
The hallway walls shrink, closing in on me until all I want to do is crush her. Remove his organs. Beat them to a pulp.
And before I can lunge, Dessin puts a hand on my shoulder.
“You’ve been with us long enough to know us, Ruth. And I’m sure you understand the consequences of your betrayal.” He strides up to her until she can feel his breath on her face. “We will not leave this prison until you’ve paid for what you’ve done in blood.”
32. Never The Same Again
Warrose
I feel like I’m screaming underwater.
No one can hear me.
They’re all above the surface.
And I’m forced to sit in the cage on her right. Hearing her sniffle. Peering at her from the corner of my eye to see her swollen face stream endlessly with tears.
The man in me who cares for the sassy, strong, argumentative Ruth wants to hold her hand. He wants to wipe away her tears. He wants to kiss her again.
That man is drowning, unable to take in a single breath as she cries.
How the fuck did life just turn upside down without any warning? How did I not catch on that this was all a performance? I can’t even bring myself to think about every moment we’ve shared. Each sweet image is a paralytic being injected into my spine. A thousand different emotions course through my body in less than a second. Anger, devastation, white-hot fury, panic, humiliation, agony.
Ruth chose him. Maybe it was him all along. How long has that relationship been going on? The memory of his arms wrapping around her makes me want to bash my head against the bars, banging until my skull cracks wide open.
Kaspias fucking Valdawell.
She chose him. Right in front of me. Right after we shared that kiss. I couldn’t sleep last night after I gave her small pecks all over her cheeks, her small nose, her long eyelashes. She giggled with pink-stained cheeks and starry eyes. My heart raced until everyone woke up.
And now this.
Ruth and Kaspias. I might throw up. I might break through the floor of my cage just to get away from her.
She’s still crying.
Should I cover my ears? How is it that I can’t stand the sound of her in so much pain, even after everything she’s done?
“You’ve betrayed us all,” Skylenna says in a low, detached voice.
