My eyes are still squished closed, the image of Tally crying, branded behind my eyelids.
“My loyalty is to Amara, to the Burnt Bones.”
She’s quiet for long enough, I open my eyes to look at her, she looks exhausted and broken. Knowing I’m the one that caused this makes me feel sick. Unease rolling around the expanse of my stomach, I don’t know how to make this right. Is there even a way to make this right?
We stare at one another for a beat, more emotions that I can’t identify, swirl around her irises. “You know she’ll never see you like that, right?”
My only response is more tears falling. My gaze drops from hers. It hurts too much for her to see behind my walls right now.
Tally’s hand cups my cheek, forcing me to look at her once more. “Maybe in another life, it might have worked.” Then she closes the distance, putting her lips against mine. The skin there sizzles as she kisses me softly.
It’snothingcompared to the kisses we’ve shared before. It'severythingcompared to the kisses we’ve shared before.
This time, I can tell the message it's laced with.
This kiss says goodbye.
I don’t want to say goodbye.
She pulls away a fraction, before kissing me gently once more, then truly pulling away.
“Goodbye, dove.”
Rising to her feet, she leaves again. A repeat of the other night.
At least this time I got closure. But I also got a lot more pain.
It shouldn’t hurt this much.
It hurts so damn much.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
CYRUS
Everything is too loud.
Everyone's joyous and excited to finally be heading off out onto the open sea. Not me. There’s a strong pull in my centre that wants me to stay right here, on this island. I’ve had a storm cloud hanging over me since the talk with Tally yesterday.
I didn’t even sleep last night. I know black bags reside under my eyes.
I was hoping I could see Tally one last time as we set sail, but she didn’t stop by the dock to see us off. Amara told me she came into the tavern last night to say goodbye. Whilst I was still sitting by the pool, letting my tears merge with the open water.
I’m pretty sure Amara has clocked onto my sour mood. I may be one-toned usually, but apparently my normal one-tone is different to this one.
I don’t even care that my walls aren’t firmly in place anymore. Tally broke them all down so effectively, that I couldn’t rebuild them even if I wanted to. She carried away thebrickwork with her when she left. I don’t even want it back, I’m happy to be this empty shell.
It’s not possible for me to love her, not when my heart belongs to someone else, so why does my chest hurt so much?
I watch as Amara and Mabel fawn over one another, enjoying the festivities as they get louder and louder. Joining in with everyone whilst only having eyes for one another.
I have a feeling that I’ve royally fucked up and that any chances I had of rebuilding were discarded the second this ship set sail.
I wish I could understand my own body. These emotions and pain make no sense to me.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
TALLY
