Page 126 of Molt

“No.”

She touches her chest. My heartbeat inside her. “But maybe this thing needs you to keep choosing her.”

“I chose you.”

“I know.”

“Sarah.”

“I know.”

She crawls closer. “This time you chose me.”

My throat closes.

“But I’m not the one you made the deal for.”

“No.”

“She is.”

I know where this is going.

“No.”

Sarah’s eyes fill. “You have to let Lenora die.”

“She already did.”

“No.” Her hand presses over her sternum. “No, August. She didn’t.” Something moves beneath her face. Her jaw shifts. Her brown hair darkens at the roots. Her green eye fills slowly with brown. The first Lenora looks out through her.

For a second. Only one.

But I know her.

My whole fucking body knows her.

“August.” The voice isn’t Sarah’s.

I freeze.

No.

No.

The woman in front of me smiles.

Not Sarah.

Lenora.

My first Lenora.

Her lips tremble. “There you are.”

Every part of me breaks at once. “Lenora?”

Her eyes fill. “I’ve missed you.”