Page 171 of Glutton for Punishment

Two feelings hit at once, neither of them simple. Months of chances to tell me, and he didn’t take a single one. But then I think about him sitting with all of it by himself, and the anger loses some of its footing.

Before I can say any of that, he speaks again.

“There is one more thing.” His eyes mist over. “Councilor Drow asked me to spy on you.”

My heart stops. “What?”

Brix nods and hides his face in his hands. “It happened during summer break. He said that if I provided information about you...” His voice breaks. “That my sisters would be provided for. He knew so much, Arwen… all of my weak spots.”

My chest tightens. Has Brix really been betraying my secrets this whole time? No. No way.

“He just wanted reports on who you were talking to. What you were doing. What was happening with your power. Whether you were becoming a threat.”

He looks up, and a single tear breaks over the edge and falls down his face. My heart feels like it’s going to pound out of my chest. Does the Council know how vulnerable I am?

I stare at him. “Brix... Does he know about my power dependency?”

His words pour out with urgency. “I didn’t tell him anything. The reports I gave him were all standard bull shit, that you were attending classes, hanging out with the same friends. I told him you wouldn’t talk about your power.”

His eyes are red and desperate. “I swear to you.”

“I believe you.”

The statement leaves my mouth without question. I know with this, Brix is a person I can trust. Brix kept his word even when it cost him.

“I haven’t slept properly in months. My grades are dropping. I can’t focus on anything anymore and I feel all my friends drifting away,” he admits.

His laugh shakes, and he wipes at his face.

“I don’t know why I just told you that; I’m not the victim here. I keep screwing everything up.”

The sight of him breaking, multiple tears falling down his face, shatters whatever distance I’ve been maintaining. I stand, cross the room and wrap my arms around him.

For a second, he freezes.

Then he breaks completely. His shoulders shake beneath my hands. Months of guilt and fear all spilling out at once. I hold on tighter.

“It’s not your fault.” My voice is firm.

“You should’ve told me. You should’ve trusted me enough to let me help, but it’s not your fault. If anyone understands keeping secrets and trust issues, it’s me.

That finally earns a weak huff of laughter.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t help you that night. I swear, I’m haunted by the moment I shut the door in your face.”

It’s haunted me as well.

For a while neither of us say anything more. I just sit beside him while he gets himself back under control. As the silence stretches, a realization settles in my chest. Just like Maddox with his violent sibling rivalry, Atticus’s manipulative father, Chloe being blackmailed to work for a gang. Everyone is trapped.

We may have different cages. Different chains.

But we’re in the same prison. Everyone is trying to survive something. And it always ties back to those in power.

Brix wipes his face and looks at me. “I don’t deserve your friendship.”

I shake my head. “You know that’s not true. I forgive you. But trust isn’t a switch, Brix. We’re not going back to normal tomorrow, but we can work toward it.”

His shoulders sag but determination flickers in his eyes.