Page 104 of Stormbreaker

I check the time and nod before he pulls me into a classroom. I’ll be late, but I don’t think I can avoid this any longer.

He closes the door and spins around to face me.

“Both our fathers are willing to take you back if you publicly denounce Aria and say you made a mistake,” Knox says. “We can still have everything we planned. I know you had a . . . moment or something but, Poet, you belong with Fiama. You know that. I know that. Skies, everyone knows that, and they’re willing to overlook this little tantrum. We can put it behind us, and everything can return to normal.”

While Knox speaks, my entire body goes numb, my fingers and toes tingling. I don’t know why he’s clinging to this . . . to us so tightly, but I need to shut it down.

“Listen,” Knox says, coming closer. He takes my hand and gently places it over his heart, the warmth of his skin seeping through his T-shirt. It’s the most intimate touch we’ve experienced in a long time, but I feel nothing. If anything, it repulses me. “If I can convince Grady to let you continue cadet training, you’ll do this, okay? I guess you won’t let it go. I know you miss Raine, but—”

“This isn’t about Raine,” I say, my hand closing into a fist. “This is what I want. What I’ve always wanted.”

Knox exhales a sharp breath. “Okay, fine. I get it. You want to be a Breaker. If I can get your dad to agree, will you do what they ask?”

It’s a tidy solution. Denouncing Aria costs me nothing. They haven’t earned my loyalty yet. I want my family back, even if they’re less than perfect. Maybe this is the answer.

“What happens after we graduate?” I ask, and Knox blinks.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I spend three years training, and then what? Will you ‘let’ me join the Guard? Or do I join the other Society wives like you all expect?”

His gaze shifts. It’s obvious he hasn’t thought that far.

“We can discuss that when the time comes,” he answers.

“No. That isn’t good enough.”

“Poet, be reasonable. I can’t be the scion of Fiama while my wife is risking her life on a Storm Tower every night. That isn’t the life meant for you.”

My momentary flare of hope deflates.

“That’s what I thought,” I say. “I’m pledging to Aria, Knox. I will become a Storm Breaker, and I will have the life I want.”

“What about your family?” he asks, his voice rising. “What about your position? Your friends! What about us?”

“Us? Are you kidding me? There is no ‘us’!”

“Poet—”

“No. How dare you suggest that we are anything when you walk around giving attention to every girl who crosses your path? You’ve humiliated me so many times, I’ve lost count. I’m a laughingstock!”

I can feel the tears welling, but I refuse to cry in front of Knox ever again. I refuse to give him that power over me anymore. Besides, I’ve had enough of this conversation. I heft my bag onto my shoulder and brush past him.

“Poet—”

I spin around. “I am not pledging to Fiama. I am not marrying you. This is over. Tell my father if he wants to have a discussion about this, then he’s welcome to actually speak to me himself.”

I wrench the door open with so much force that I almost fall over.

“Wait, please—” Knox says, and I stop to look at him.

“I loved you once,” I whisper. “I thought we’d be happy together. I wanted all of this for us, too, but you’ve broken my heart too many times.”

Knox doesn’t answer as I leave the room and close the door behind me . . . and on us.

Forever.

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