“That sounds an awful lot like jealousy, sister.”
“It’s not jealousy, Zara,” Lana’s lips curled into a snarl as she stepped closer. “It’s pity. Your sorry excuse for a life, her obsession with you, gave me the opportunity to helpthem. To do some actual good, unlike you. And it wasn't me who gave Lex that potion, butBubba.”
Her words sliced through me, striking me like a blow. Emotions crashed through me—resentment, anger, that hopelessness—and I lunged, tackling my sister to the forest floor. She had been ready, her knee lodging into my stomach and launching me off her. My back slammed into a nearby trunk, and the air rushed from my lungs.
Lana stood, and I laughed at the ridiculousness of this, of her. Of what I had found out.
I was so fucking tired.
My vision blurred, and something wet fell to my cheek. I growled, wiping it away, and stood, glaring.
“So,” I threw my arms in the air. “What now, Lana? What is your grand plan? She will never let you leave. She will kill you and him for this.”
“Morgana? Do something?” Lana laughed cruelly. “When has she ever lifted a finger? You on the other hand,” she spat, “the good little pet that you are.”
I snarled, taking a step forward. “I wouldn’t.”
Lana laughed again. “It doesn’t matter. At least when I die, I can say that I tried, that I fought. Which is more than you can say about anything in your life,” Lana growled, and Lex stepped to her side, his eyes narrowing on me.
“Do you think I have a choice in any of this?” I demanded, my voice strained. “She has my soul, Lana! I'm powerless. She can compel me, force me to do anything she commands! If you think I don't fight back…” I shook my head, laughing. My skin felt tight, and my breath came out in ragged gasps. “You know nothing of what I go through, of what it's like.”
“I know a lot more than you,” Lana snapped. “She might have been able to control you before when she had all of you, but you have part of it back. You are bonded with your mate, have his magic, his soul to pull from now. You aren’t trying hard enough,” she snarled. “You have given up Zara. You gave up a long time ago, and I have tried to help you—”
“Help me?” I shouted. “When have you ever helped me!”
“Who do you think forged the documents to bring Cynthia to Kinsdale? Who do you think gave Jaxon the knowledge to open that realm? To prolong your time in Nexia so you could see how good your life could be, to give you time with yourmate, to make you want something to live for!” Lana was yelling, and I blinked.
She what?
Lana scowled. “I gave you time, information she took from you. A glimpse of the life you should have, Zara, not this. Not her. And even after seeing it, feeling it, you still fight against it, still don’t see what’s right in front of your fucking eyes.”
My chest tightened and my mind couldn’t comprehend what she was saying.
“You didn’t—” I began, but Lex cut me off.
“She risked everything for you, Zara,” he growled. “Don’t you dare say otherwise.”
“Liar!” I growled, my fists clenching at my sides. A dewy coldness spread over my skin, and my fingers tingled. I almost swayed, my eyes burning with an overwhelming flood of emotions, and I choked out, “You've never been there for me, never!” My voice cracked as another tear slid down my cheek.
“I told you, Lana,” Lex snapped, turning his glaring pale eyes toward her, “she can’t be saved. She will always be a sniveling, ungrateful pet.” Lex spat the words, and I could tell he truly meant it; he truly believed that I was unsavable.
And he was right… his words splintered my already fragile insides, and I looked between the two of them.
“Lex,” Lana hissed, turning to him angrily. But I didn’t wait to hear his response or to hear anymore of her lies. I turned, the trees blurring around me as I stalked back toward the camp.
“You can’t tell anyone,” Lana hissed after me, but I didn’t reply. I couldn’t bring myself to. I was over this day, this week, this fucking life.
“We can’t trust her, Lana,” I heard Lex argue, heard his footsteps as he tried to follow me, and I paused, tensing as I readied to fight him, but his steps stopped.
“Let her go.”
Lana’s voice floated to me, and I began walking again.
I needed a fucking drink.
*
The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly before me, and I let out a groan. Why was it so long? My palm landed on the icy stone floor as I stumbled, and I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against it. It felt amazing. My dizziness subsided, and I peered up, glaring back down the hallway. My room was at the very end, well, notmyroom, but the room I was about to throw up in.
