Page 61 of Sophie's Ruin

In the blink of an eye, Isabelle let go of me and bent down to her brother.

“Here,” she said gently, as she cradled his head and gave him more blood.

“What’s going on down here?” came Wren’s voice as he walked into the cellar.

He froze right on the other side of the threshold. Pale-blue eyes darted to Henry before fastening on me.

“What happened?” he asked low.

“Shedid this to him!” Isabelle growled over her shoulder, and I flinched.

Henry coughed, choking on the blood and I involuntarily reached for him.

“Don’t,” Isabelle snarled at me. “Don’t touch him. Get out!”

I curled my fingers into a fist and lowered my hand.

“Get out!” Isabelle screamed, jarring me into action.

With preternatural ease, I jumped to my feet and swept from the room, passing shocked Wren on the way out.

Powerful magic blasted into me the moment I stepped into the hall. With a sharp cry, I went down on one knee, bracing my hand on the floor for support. White Witches surrounded me, with Celeste standing closest to me, her arm lifted as magic poured out of her open hand.

“Please,” I managed to get out through gritted teeth.

My breathing was coming in short, rapid pants as Celeste’s magic bore down on me, constricting my chest and pressing me lower to the ground.

“Celeste—” Amelie said meekly, stepping closer to the witch.

“Don’t,” Celeste warned her. “Her magic is dark. We need to detain her.”

“I left the darkness behind,” I bit out, straining against Celeste’s powers.

“Am I supposed to believe that?” she challenged.

“Yes,” I rasped. “I hurt Henry—” My voice broke as tears surged and spilled.

Celeste’s eyes widened as Amelie paled next to her.

“Let her go,” the young witch said. “She’s clearly distraught.”

“She’s dangerous,” Celeste insisted.

“I don’t think she is. Not anymore,” Amelie said, as she stepped closer to me and lowered to her knees.

I felt the pressure of Celeste’s magic gradually alleviate until it disappeared entirely. The crushing weight was still there, though, pushing me to the ground. It was the weight of what I’d done to Henry.

Amelie’s features were blurry through my tears as she stared at me with empathy on her freckled face.

“Are you okay?” she asked low.

I shook my head “no” and crumpled to the ground, where I curled into a ball and wept.

30

Iwatched him breathe shallowly. In and out. In and out. My chest rose and fell, matching the rhythm. I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs. Good—I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as he. Nor did I deserve to be here. In Henry’s bedroom, with him lying still on his bed. I’d almost killed him…

A ragged sob escaped, and I clamped my hand over my mouth, my entire body shaking.