“Is it truly?”
Jethro smiled with the wattage of a thousand moons. “It’s done.”
My heart unfurled, and for the first time, I believed that.
The Final Debt would never be paid.
The Hawks had lost.
The Weavers were free.
The Debt Inheritance would never claim another victim.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jethro
“NO, FOR THE final time, you’re not coming.” I pushed Nila aside. “You’re not going to be there when I do what needs to be done.”
Her mouth opened to argue, her uninjured arm hugging her broken one. “But—”
“No buts. You’re not coming. No matter what you say. You. Are. Not. Coming.” A sliver of the old me—the arsehole who’d collected her that first night—came back. That shell had long since broken, but it rapidly reformed.
And I let it.
I let it because what I was about to do would test every inch of my condition. It would kill me as much as it would kill Cut because I would feel everything my father would go through. I wouldn’t be able to shut off his emotional screams nor freeze myself from ignoring his thoughts.
I would be with him for every lash.
Nila tried to grab my arm. “Jet—”
Dodging her hold, I pointed a finger in her face. “No, Nila. You’re to stay.Obeyfor once. Don’t make me ask again.”
“You’re not asking, you’re telling.”
“Goddammit.” I swallowed hard, running a hand through my hair. I hadn’t slept in days, my body hurt all over, and my mind barely functioned from dealing with so much death and agony in the ballroom. Seeing her on her knees with the hood on her face and guillotine above her head—it’d fucking crippled me.
I’d hurt so many people for her. I wore their souls like badges of worthless honour. And yet, shestillargued.
I can’t do this.
You have to.
I couldn’t falter now. Not when the end was so close.
All I wanted to do was drag Nila to her quarters, tend to her arm, and fall asleep. I wanted today to be over so tomorrow could banish the past.
But I couldn’t.
I had things to do, and I would not—no matter how much she fucking argued—let Nila be a part of them.
I looked at my sister as she wheeled closer. My eyes shot two messages:Help and don’t argue.My voice sounded like I’d been smoking for decades. “Take Nila to her quarters.”
Jasmine nodded slightly, understanding better than anyone what I was about to do and why I had to do it. Her fingers slinked around Nila’s unbroken wrist.
Nila jerked, trying to free herself. “What? No way.” Managing to shake Jasmine off, she planted one hand on her hip; the other she let hover by her waist, protected by her body.
Her gaze darted between Cut and me. “He’s not worth it. Can’t you see that? He isn’t worth what you’re about to—”
