Chapter 404. Chantel’s Struggle

Veronica Ambrose

Zave reaches out to hold my hand, settling in between Chantel and me. He tries to hold her hand too, but she flinches away, not responsive, not even to Lexcis. Though she does let him hold her. He's always been the only one able to break through her high walls.

"Birdie, hey—" Zave starts, his voice gentle.

"Don't," she spits, her tone sharp. "It's not about me. It's about all of us. Don't make this about me."

She doesn't want any special treatment, which I understand, but how can we not? That's the man who abducted her, abused her, and put her through hell. I know our father is standing there, the man who tormented all of us. I know Sorana is there, the woman who broke my heart. And yes, my mother is standing there too, the woman who—well, did all kinds of things.

Chantel is right; it is about all of us, but the one difference is that we've had time. Time to recover f