Page 103 of Revenant

“Okay.” I keep it simple, afraid if I say much more, all the emotions I’ve worked so hard to keep contained will implode into a puddle of my own humiliation.

Eldritch didn’t seem like he was in the mood to argue, especially when Pryce didn’t give him any room to do so. However, much to my dismay, before we left the greenhouse, Eldritch made it a point to let me know that we will need to have one on one lessons to get me up to speed.

Just what I wanted, more time with Professor Asshole.

The rational escape route, in my opinion, was to take the secret tunnel back to the main part of the school. However, Pryce insisted that it was too dangerous with so many people in the greenhouse. He leads me through the forest, and when we enter the quad, he takes a sudden turn toward Blackthorn Den.

It’s a ghost town, which is to be expected considering it has to be nearing midnight. “Is this really necessary?”

“I just—just wanted somewhere private.” He’s pacing now, anxiety radiating from him.

“And you thought the library was the best place for that?”

“Fuck! I’m already messing this up.” He says it like a confession under his breath.

I release a weighted sigh, one full of everything left unsaid. “Whatever it is you want to tell me, just get on with it.”

“I’m sorry,” he blurts. “I’m so sorry, tesoro, for everything. The lying, the betrayal you felt. The secrets I had to keep. But you have to understand I didn’t—”

“You didn’t what?” I interrupt, all the emotions I felt during the week coming at me full force. “You didn’t mean to keep me in the dark? Didn’t mean to leave me high and dry during the most vulnerable time in my life?”

“All of it! None of this was part of the plan.”

“What wasn’t?”

“Falling for you!” He slams his hand against his mouth like he didn’t mean for it to come out that way. But the admission stuns me silent, and he takes that as an invitation to keep going, even though his eyes are screaming that this is killing him. “From the moment I laid eyes on you, it was like my entire existence made sense. The whole reason I’m still here was so I had the opportunity, the privilege to be in your orbit.”

Tears burn the back of my eyes, skating down my face with rapid speed and no end in sight. “How could you? When you discarded me like trash?” My words get caught in the back of my throat, latching onto a semblance of my own resolve before it snaps in two.

“I didn’t want to. God, tesoro, it killed me. Being away from you was like I was missing a piece of my soul, a piece I just recently got back, and didn’t know it was gone until you arrived.”

“Then why?”

“Eryx insisted. As always I had to clean up his mess, and since he thought I was getting too attached, he gave me no other option. And if I’m being honest, he wasn’t wrong.”

I gape at him. “So you just went along with whatever he told you to do…because?”

“Alicent, he’s my brother. I didn’t have a choice; if it wasn’t me, it would’ve been him and who knows how catastrophic that would’ve been. Trust me when I say a baby vampire on campus is extremely dangerous. We haven’t personally turned someone in ages.”

Some part of me understands where he’s coming from, and I can’t fault him for that. It doesn’t mean his actions sting any less. “It’s not what you did, it’s how. Instead of communicating, letting me in, you chose to keep me in the dark. Again.” He digests what I’m saying, hanging on every syllable like it’s my last breath. “Why would you rather have me believe the worst, when we could’ve done this earlier?”

“You didn’t see the way you looked at me. Your stare cut deep into parts of me I didn’t know existed, leaving me open on display for the world to see. I thought…I thought I didn’t deserve your forgiveness when I couldn’t live with the pain I caused you.”

“Pryce, all I ever wanted was an explanation. But from where I was standing, it looked like you didn’t care. Like you got what you wanted from me and that was the end of it.”

He takes a cautious step forward, trying to gauge my reaction to his proximity. I don’t deter him, don’t even flinch as his hand raises to my face, cupping my cheek. “I know sorry isn’t enough. But I promise to make it up to you every day, for as long as we have.”

I lean into his touch, welcoming the familiar feeling of comfort. “I’m tired of being mad at you. I can’t promise to trust you, but for now, I’m willing to put my anger aside.” He lets out a breath of relief, and before he can think twice, he leans in and places his soft lips on mine, catching me completely by surprise.

My eyes go wide, but instinctively, I pull him closer as they flutter closed, letting the scent of amber and vanilla guide me. He doesn’t push, press any harder than a simple, gentle kiss before he’s pulling away, smiling down at me like he’s been waiting for this moment since I arrived.

It feels like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders, like something pressing in on me from all sides has finally evaporated. However, part of his admission still doesn’t sit right with me. “Where’s Eryx?”

Pryce cocks his head. “I’d assume he’s dealing with Naomi and Lacey, why?”

“In the west wing?”

“Um…yeah?”