Page 108 of Terror Tuesday

She takes a step back and crosses her arms, but her gaze never leaves my face. My real face. I feel naked.

Every time I hid behind that mask, I felt the weight of it crushing me. It killed who I was slowly. By maintaining the separate identities, I risked losing the one thing I wanted the most: her.

“I’ve watched everyone around me betray each other for power and money and status. To make sure they were in line with the Seventh Society’s teachings. I learned early that trust is a weakness. I had to be sure,absolutelysure, that you wouldn’t become another regret.”

“You say that like this is anormalthing to do. But you toyed with my emotions, Ell— Van… I don’t even fucking know what to call you!”

With a smirk, I step closer. “Master works.”

“Fuck you.”

My hand grips the nape of her neck, pulling her back into me, and she crashes against my chest with a gasp. “I plan to.”

“Valen… Von Dovish. Why?”

“No one sees me, Monarch. Only those closest ever have. I prefer it that way. Few people enter my circle, but now you’re one of them. I followed as you wandered towardElliot, the safe path, the life you thought would give you normalcy. But then your heart spoke, and I saw the shift. I hurried over here to meet you, because it was finally time you met the realme.”

Getting here on my motorcycle before she could was a fun feat. But I was smiling the entire way, knowing she had chosen well.

She pauses, her eyes glancing at my lips, which makes me want to capture hers. “Vanq’s voice… You sound likeElliot.”

“Because Iamhim. I just deepened it when I had the mask on, hid it as best I could. But I wanted to tell you. I did… I also didn’t know if I could. Not until you took care of Blackwell.”

Still bewildered, she thinks for a minute as she shakes her head. “You were watching at the president’s house for his luncheon!”

“Yeah.”

“You said you were a scholarship kid!”

“No, no.Inever said that. It wasimpliedby that douche, and you went with it. So, really, was it that big of a lie?”

She narrows her eyes. “You said you weren’t rich! You have more money than us all!”

“Technically, I wasn’t rich…” Her jaw lowers to rebut me, but I brush my thumb over her bottom lip and tell her how I feel. “I wasn’t…until I had you. Now, I’m the wealthiest man alive.”

“Youdidlie when you said you weren’t in Greek Life!” She points her finger in my face.

“I really don’t do much withDelta. Not unless forced.”

Her face pinkens, eyes flashing with stubbornness. “I want to be mad at you.”

“Every time I hid was agony. You don’t know how many times I nearly gave in, nearly revealed myself, because seeing you hurt was torture, Olivia.”

She looks away with a harsh whisper. “You made me feel like I was losing my mind. You made me doubt myself, everything I thought I knew…”

Increasing guilt spears through me, sharper than any blade. “I’m so fucking sorry, but you had to choose freely, knowing the risks.”

Her eyes find mine again, uncertain but softening. For one quiet heartbeat, we stare, worlds crashing and reforming between us. Then I move, decisively bridging every gap we created. Sealing us together once. Forever.

“I accept your anger. Hate me. Fuck me. Take it all out on my body until you forgive me.

“What—”

But I don’t let her finish, lifting her easily into my arms as she protests halfheartedly.

“Put me down!”

Ignoring her kicks, I stride into the ruined chapel next to us. “Welcome home, my queen,” I announce, carrying her toward a future I’ve only dared to imagine.