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“Them. Not him. And when he fails them, it will be a slow destruction of the pack. Torturous. Unending. I’m sure Love will cling to it, thinking he can hold it together. For years, perhaps. Until he realises there is nothing left to save.”
I took a deep breath, calming myself.
“Butyouwere the prize I didn’t plan for. Their own mate they gave up on. As they break, they’ll know that—know that I have you. You’re going to make yourself beautiful tomorrow morning. The princess they’ll never have.”
I tried to block him out.
I needed to let him continue. He was fracturing, the bond was telling me that. Let him speak lies, and tomorrow Ebonywouldsave me.
He would.
They all would.
“And then, with time,” Zeus went on. “You’ll come to love me just like you fell for them.”
“I willneverlove you.” I tensed, knowing it was a mistake, but Zeus only laughed.
“You fell for the men who tormented you—the mates whorejectedyou. I am no different. Better even, than that monster the universe paired you with.”
No.
No.
“I wanted him.” The words slipped out, desperate and damning. “Ebony. I… I wanted him.” I almost shut my eyes again, pulse out of control.
“What?” His voice was low and dangerous.
“I…” Shit. I knew I should stop but I couldn’t stand this. Couldn’t stand him comparing himself to my mates. “I wanted him.Hesaid no.”
There was a long, harrowing silence.
My throat was completely dry as I watched the fury twisting his expression. “You think they’re going to give what we ask of them tomorrow? That they care enough?”
Yes.
I… I did.
They’d promised.He’dpromised.
Given me hope like I’d never had.
I believed in them all.
Zeus looked mad. “If, by some miracle, you’re right, Vex, I will ensure you wish you hadn’t been.”
“W-what does that mean?”
He ignored me. “You won’t be, though.” He looked disgusted, shoving me from him with such aggression that I crashed to the floor. “And when you finally learn that, you’ll be crawling back to me.”
I crawled into the bed, curled up and shaking. I clung to my sleeve, to that last line I’d never found the courage to sing, and whispered my lullaby, holding them close, my voice cracking with each line.
Aisha.
“There’s a bird in the storm, and nobody knows…”
My mother.
“And she sings for herself as the cold rains grow…”
