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He froze, his expression shocked. "What are you talking about?"
I closed my eyes. I couldn't stand to look into his face, not now, not ever again. I couldn't have him, and it destroyed whatever was left of my heart. I was stupid to ever think we could be together. So stupid. "You're immortal," I whispered. "Your soul is bright and shining and perfect and eternal. You aren't going to die. Ever. "
Lend dropped his hands off my shoulders. I wouldn't open my eyes, couldn't see the look on his beautiful face. "How long have you known?"
"Since prom night. When I was filled with the souls, I could see straight through to yours, and-It doesn't matter. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I didn't want to lose you. " I laughed bitterly, opening my eyes to stare at the floor. "But that was inevitable, wasn't it?"
"Evie, I-What am I supposed to say to this?"
"You'll figure it out. You've got an eternity to. "
His voice was angry, desperate. "But we can still-"
"No!" I finally looked up into his water eyes, those eyes I once hoped held my entire future. His heartbreak mirrored mine. But unlike me, he'd get over it. "We can't. I'm not going to be like your dad, left behind, clinging forever to the one perfect love that could never work! I won't be that person. I love you too much to make you try to stay with me when I know you'll want to move on. You'll have to move on and become whatever it is you're supposed to be. I'm not going to stay here and wait for it to happen. "
I turned to Jack, who opened a door in the wall and held out his hand. I took it, unable to resist a final look at Lend.
He took a step back, not meeting my eyes as he silently shook his head.
"It's for the best," I whispered, wishing, desperately hoping that he would disagree with me, stop me, do anything.
He just stood there.
And so I walked into the darkness with Jack.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sleeping Beauty
Where to?" Jack asked.
I realized I wasn't crying anymore. There was no point. I was a broken, useless shell of a girl. My entire existence was a mistake. I had no home, no family, no future. All I felt was numb. After all, why mourn the loss of things I never should have had to begin with?
I shook my head, my voice hollow. "It doesn't matter. "
"Do you, uh, want to talk about it?"
"You wouldn't understand. " No one would ever understand because no one was the same as me.
No, that was wrong. Vivian. She and I were the same. I was hit with a sudden, aching need to see her. Really see her. I wondered if she knew about us, about what our fathers were. But she would have told me if she did. Now more than ever I could understand her, forgive her for what she'd done. At least I'd been able to grow up with the illusion of normalcy. She'd never had a life free from the faeries.
"Could you find someone? I don't know where she is, but IPCA has her somewhere. "
Jack smiled at me in the darkness. "If IPCA has her, I can find her. "
He veered to the side and opened a door into a white hallway I knew all too well. We hurried toward Raquel's office. "Wait here. " Jack turned the corner out of sight.
I heard him knock. "Jack? What is it?" Raquel asked.
"Evie's missing!"
"What? What do you mean, missing?"
"I went to visit her, but her vampire and that dumb boy she likes were panicking. They don't know where she is. "
"Reth. " Raquel's voice cut through the air, so menacing even I was a little scared. "Don't worry, Jack. I'll take care of this. I should never have let her out into the world unprotected, but I'll get her back. "
The sound of her pumps stomping down the hall was followed by Jack peeping around the corner, grinning. "All clear, then. "
