Page 144

“Your worth?” He laughs a shallow, distant laugh. Rhenn’s fingers brush over mine, only barely, like he’s scared I might shatter if he moves too fast. It’s the way he’s looking at me though, so much softer than he was a moment ago, it makes my stomach falter. “Even when the world hasn’t shown it, even when you don’t feel it, you are worth everything. Can’t you see that?” I open my mouth to argue, something he sees coming, and he pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly against him. “Everything…”

It hurts. It hurts so much to hear and to feel. I pull away, needing to find the strength to let go. Nothing good is real. This isn’t real. Everything bad that’s happened here was because of Rhenn. He doesn’t care about me. It’s only my broken pieces he wants.

But the confusion in his eyes… The urgency in his embrace…

Rhenn grabs my hand. “Vix, don’t go.”

Any desperate shred of hope I had dies with that word. He can’t say it, even now. I’m nothing more than a nameless girl he let stay in his guest house out of pity.

Fighting against the tears threatening my vision, I rip my arm away. “Stop calling me that. I have a fucking name.”

“Just wait a minute. We⁠—”

“We nothing. I am done.”

Rhenn brings his hands over his face, raking strained fingers through his thick hair. “Damnit, Vix. Do you have to ruin everything?”

I uncap the bottle, squeezing the small cork in my hand. Lemongrass and jasmine fill the air, mixed with a subtle hint of something deep and earthy. Its aroma is stronger than I’d expected, hitting my senses with a sharp zing to my nose.

“You know that stuff is dangerous, right? One wrong ingredient and you’re dead. That’s why no one uses Witch’s Flash to travel.”

“Then I guess that gives everyone here something to look forward to.” I lift the little bottle, gazing into the murky green liquid. I hope it tastes better than it looks.

He grabs me again, turning me so I’m facing him. “So that’s it? You’re just going to leave?”

“Give me one reason to stay, Rhenn. One.”

He watches me, brows pulling together.

All I want is for him to bring me closer, to hold me in his arms and tell me I’m not going anywhere, that me being here wasn’t a mistake.

His mouth opens, then closes again before anything comes out.

It’s exactly what I expected.

I can’t stay here any longer. I can’t bear to have him looking at me like that, feeling the warmth of his hands against my skin, knowing it was only ever temporary. It hurts too much.

Rhenn lied about everything. And that ache digs deeper than his actions ever could.

This was never going to be my home.

I know that now.

With a deep breath, I pull my arm from his grip, bring the glass vial to my lips, and drink the poison.

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

RHENN

-Then, The Night Following The Hunt-

Dirty dishes flood the sink, spilling onto the counter and table. Tears streak the stained couch, cotton falling from the ripped seams of the cushions. A line of smoke swirls into the stagnant air from the still lit cigarette sitting in the makeshift ashtray.

My gaze trails to the occupied recliner. Whisps of dark and gray hair stand messily on the balding head. Even asleep, the fat fuck grips a brown bottle in his hand. It’s tilted, spilling drops onto the floor with every breath from his big belly.

I step through the old house, feeling the floorboards creak beneath my feet. The hall is empty. Paint chips from the walls and everything smells of mildew.

I pass by the rooms, stopping when I get to the closed door at the back. The old wood quivers when I push through, seeing a small bed and withered dresser. The sight of a broken doll house makes me shudder. I’ve seen it in Sumner’s memories.