Page 139 of Awry

My heart stops for one terrible moment, lungs constricting breathlessly, as visceral pain shoots through my chest.I want to sob, to scream, in agreement with that utter truth.

He’s right.

He’s right.I never could have left him, left them … I …

But I can’t breathe.I can’t find my voice.

I never would have left …

Rought still has his hand out to me, but I can’t close the distance to him.

I never would have left voluntarily.I know that even when I know nothing else.

I know that to be true.

“That doesn’t explain …” I gasp, my mind on overload.My chest aches.“Who could have done this to me?… I’m … I’m … I should be immune to any essence manipulation.I should have been immune even then, even at seventeen!”

I press my hands to my face, and for yet another terrible moment, I think I might be going insane.“What if … am I me?What if I’m not her?!”

“You are.”

“How do you know!?”I cry.

Rought reaches for me.And as gently as he can while I’m fighting him, he pulls my hands away from my face.“I know you, Zaya.You are part of me, part of my soul.My Marrow.”

And I know it’s true.

I’m his fucking soul-bonded mate, tattooed across his heart, my teeth marks on his flesh.

And I remember nothing.

Nothing of that love, of that connection, of that life.

“No threads connect us,” I murmur.

Except I’m not sure who I’m speaking to.

Possibly the universe.

Because what else could take so much from me but the universe itself?