Page 33 of Serpent & Saviors

“My childhood was hell in so many ways. Remember when I told you I almost drowned?” His voice cracked a little.

I nodded, unable to form words.

“Well my mother tried to kill me. It wasn’t the first time, although it was the last. I meant what I said. We’re survivors.”

“So you know how it feels then to have someone…someone…” I asked, my voice trailing off.

That rush of connection had my emotions going all over the place. He would understand the abject fear of what it was like to have someone in complete control over your very breath.

I whimpered as visions swirled before me of the Mask’s face warping into Cameron’s and then back again, over and over. I launched myself at Andrew, needing to feel strong arms around me, and sobbed into his chest.

“Aw, angel. I didn’t mean to upset you further.”

“It’s okay,” I murmured.

“No, it’s not. I want to afford you the luxury of not elaborating, but I can’t in good conscience not ask. Your own experience—it wasn’t accidental, I take it? Someone tried to drown you too? Cameron?” he asked.

My ribs felt too tight, as if my body was trying to contain emotions too big to hold. Gut-wrenching sobs shook my entire frame, and his arms tightened around me.

“Cameron—”

“Please don’t do that. Don’t stick up for him,” he seethed. “I need the truth. Please let me help you,” he added desperately.

I took a deep breath, and the words poured from the deepest part of me. He had shared about his mother. It seemed fitting that I share too.

“He wasn’t the first, but I don’t like to talk about it. Cameron only knows because he read about it…it…in my jour—” Feeling the panic rise as regret and shame hit, I muttered, “Oh God, I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. Please forget everything I said.”

“Victoria,” he warned, low and steady. Almost pleadingly.

Something about the way he said my name made my throat tighten.

Get it together.

“Honestly, how rude of me.” I forced a brittle laugh and wiped beneath my eyes. “We were talking about your mother, and somehow I made it about me. I’m sorry. That must have been… awful. I can’t even begin to imagine.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the shift. It was subtle but unmistakable. The quiet thread tethering us frayed, his expression shuttering enough to let me know the moment had passed.

And it was my doing.

I couldn’t hold his gaze. Instead, I blinked hard, retreating inward, scrambling to piece myself back together. The walls I lived behind rose up, and instinct kicked in, sharp and immediate.

He raked a hand through his hair, the frustration plain to see. But he didn’t push, and I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Ever the gentleman, he offered me his arm again, and I accepted, even though I didn’t deserve it. We walked toward the dining room in silence, all the unspoken things stretched between us.

By the time we arrived, I’d gathered myself—at least enough to fake composure. My face still felt warm, but I lifted my chin anyway. Eleanor was very kind. She wouldn’t acknowledge my tear-streaked cheeks.

The scent of a roast and vegetables drifted toward me, reminding me just how long it had been since I last ate. It was all I could do to keep from drooling over the freshly baked rolls that filled the air with their mouthwatering aroma. My stomach growled embarrassingly loud, causing Andrew to laugh.

A rush of heat hit my face at the sound, and Eleanor entered, followed by several servers. After holding out my seat, Andrew did the same for his grandmother and then took his.

“My husband will be so sad that he missed your visit. He’s away, giving some lecture on corporate law this week,” Eleanor said with a warm smile.

My stomach clenched. Corporate law. I shifted in my seat, suddenly unsure. Could it be the same conference Cameron was attending? The coincidence made my skin prickle. But I didn’t dare ask. Even voicing the thought felt dangerous.

Instead, I latched onto the safer thread. “Oh…pot roast. I love it,” I said, the smile I offered likely as thin as my composure.

Eleanor’s eyes twinkled kindly. “So tell me all about what you’ve been doing with your life these days.”

Oh no. Of course, she’d want to know. You can do this. Breathe.