“And you were a fool to ever betray me,” he growled.
A chill bit the air around them, nipping at her bones. An unsettling weight slowly crushed down on her chest, tightening the muscles in her abdomen. Her heart jumped frantically against the shuddering in her core. Flickers played in her vision, glitching her sight of Acacius.
You killed him.
Panic dropped in her stomach like a match. The voice was loud and corrupt inside of her head—unforgiving.
You took your father’s life.
She tightened her fingers in the material of Acacius’s shirt, attempting to control their trembling.
You deserve misery.
A sweat broke out across her brow.
To suffer for all the pain that you’ve caused.
The moment flashed in lapses behind her eyes—Father in between her and Finnian, blood trailing down his face, offering his hand out to her.
My darling, I forgive you.
Sickness clotted in Marina’s throat.
She yanked against Acacius’s grasp on her jaw.
He dug the pads of his fingers in harder, refusing to let her go.
I killed him.
A vicious, immobilizing sensation stiffened her body.
He is gone forever.
Waves of fresh agony crested over her, ripping her under their weight. The feelings were just as intense and ruthless as when it’d happened. It was as if she was there all over again, frozen in the biggest mistake of her life.
Acacius released her and she slumped forward, slapping her hand on her bellowing chest. Her forehead met Acacius’s collarbone. She shook uncontrollably, hyperventilating. No matter how much air she sucked in, it did not feel like enough.
I hate myself.
A trill rang in her ears, muffling all sound.
I don’t want to wake up as me anymore.
Tingles raced up her neck and popped like stars behind her eyes.
All I do is fuck up the things I love.
A hand rested on the back of her head, gentle, caressing her hair in tranquil strokes.
I regret everything.
“This,” Acacius whispered, “is only the beginning of the pain I have planned for you.”
Her mouth went dry, her tongue sticking like gritted sandpaper to her teeth.
I want to die.
Acacius’s other arm wrapped around her waist, embracing her. “Death would be too kind a punishment for you.”
