46
Claudia
My stomach churns, desperate to disgorge its contents. But I can’t move. I can’t push the demons Antony’s unleashed back into their box. They press against my skull as the full horror of it rolls over me.
And in that moment, something inside me snaps.
I lost everything.
All those years I lived alone in this house, I dreamed of a family, of people who had my back no matter what. And through chance and happenstances and sheer dumb luck, I got everything I dreamed of. I had friends who cared for me, and I had three princes who loved me, who worshipped me. But I blew it. They put me on a pedestal, and I showed them that I was no goddess, but a demon in disguise.
I cost them everything – their futures, their college plans, their families, their innocence. Noah lostGracebecause of me.
I piled up the house of sand that crumbled around us.
No wonder they left me.
No wonder theyhateme.
I’m too broken to see that my beloved cousin is my rapist.
I’m too selfish to realize that everything I dreamed of was right under my nose.
I’m too corrupted to understand that the freedom I sought was in their arms the whole time.
I took three guys who had bright, brilliant futures and pulled them into my nightmare. I made them give up everything they are for my love, and never did the same in return.
I’ll never be able to right the evil I’ve done to them. But they gave me so much of themselves, it’s time for me to give something back. To give them their dreams back. They deserve that much from me. They deserve so much more.
I close my eyes – the only part of me still able to move – and I picture their faces. Sweet Eli with that too pretty smile. Dark-eyed Noah who mirrors my soul. Gabriel with those sinful lips that sing the stars.
I give them the only gift I have left to give.
I let go.
I stop fighting the grey fog. I sink into nothingness, letting the drug take me. I welcome oblivion. I greet death as my father, Julian August, would have done – with open arms.
In my death, they will live again.
They will truly be free.
Antony’s voice courses through my thoughts as a new kind of numb warmth shoots up my legs. “When I got your call today, I couldn’t believe our luck. I knew it was time to act. I rang Mackenzie and told her to wait for me, but of course she’s too impulsive. She ran straight over here to finish you off. But don’t worry, the legend of Claudia August won’t die with you. Your empire will live on. It’s time for you to retire and the true queen to take over.”
“Mmmmmm. Mmmmmmf.” A faint cry manages to penetrate my lips. I try to say that I’m ready to go, that Mackenzie can have my savage empire if she wants it so badly, that it’s a curse she will regret for the rest of her life.
“I think she’s trying to say that someone will come to save her,” Mackenzie trills. “She seems to believe that if she doesn’t show up at the docks, one of her handsome, loyal boyfriends will come to save her. But we have that all taken care of. Nero’s at the docks now with some of his top soldiers. He’ll make quick work of your people and secure the treasure, which he’s promised to halve with me. I’ll take over, and I’ll move in here with your three boyfriends. They’ll never know that I’m not the real Claudia. I’m going to have so much fun with them.”
“Now that we have the treasure,” Antony says, “we don’t need you anymore.”
“We reallydoappreciate everything you’ve done for us,” Mackenzie purrs, gripping the edge of the coffin. “But now it’s time to say goodbye, sis. Antony’s already dug you a nice deep grave. It’ll be such a pleasant way to go with those drugs in your system. You won’t feel a thing. Just close your eyes and slip away.”
I can’t do a thing as my sister lowers the lid. The last thing I see is Mackenzie Malloy’s ice-cold eyes glowing in triumph as the world disappears into darkness.
47
Claudia
As soon as the lid slams down, terror pulls me back from the edge.
