Besides, if Finn loved me, he’d want me to stay here. Happy. He could join us if he wanted. In fact, I almost hoped he would.
“What if . . .?” Justice’s pupils dilated, and an answering flush spread over my skin.
“Why did you jump in after us?”
Justice stared at me with the intensity of the sun. “I jumped in after you.”
“Even knowing no one ever escapes?”
He shook his head, his expression intent. “You don’t get it. You’ve never gotten it. If you aren’t in the world, then I may as well thrust a knife into my chest. I’d rather be in hell with you than in heaven without. I came after you because I had a choice, and when I have a choice, I’ll always choose you.”
“But you didn’t. Jagger said he’d give me to you. And?—”
Justice swore. Then, when my flower petals tickled his nose, he blew them aside. “You heard that?”
I nodded.
“Mari. I want you to choose me too. When you’ve lived your whole life without choices, then you know how wrong it is to take a choice away from someone else.”
“But you wanted to take Jagger’s bargain. You were tempted.”
His black pupils nearly swallowed me. “Only a liar would claim they weren’t tempted.”
“You’re not a liar?”
He laughed. “I lie all the time.”
“What did Jagger want you to do?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“If we leave, will you have to do it?”
He didn’t respond—just kept walking with the flow of the jubilant crowd.
“So that’s a yes. Will it hurt you to do it?”
He looked to the side, staring at a golden cage full of brightly colored birds.
“Songbirds! Songbirds!” the woman next to them sang.
Still, he didn’t answer.
“So it will hurt you.”
He looked down at me again. “I know what happens to you if we go back. It’s better here. Trust me. It’s better. Look around. Look at the people. Everyone is happy. We’ll live in one of these houses. We’ll eat delicious food. We’ll . . .” He peered at a couple kissing against a wall. No—not kissing. More. His cheeks flushed red. My eyes widened. “We’ll be happy,” he said in a low voice.
I clutched the white flowers, breathing in their scent, and stared into Justice’s eyes.
“What is your depravity?” I asked.
He smiled. “Wanting you.”
I laughed.
“Yours?” he asked.
“Gluttony. I’m starving.”
