Chapter 44

Xavier tilted his head at the little, shaky voice, his heart pounding with the potency of a wrecking ball against his chest. “Celeste…? How…why are you here…? I thought…are you crying?”

Celeste moved to stand in front of Zillon, her teary eyes focused on the man in the corner of the cell. “Is it…is it true? Was it all a lie?”

Xavier looked towards the walls, not answering.

Celeste stepped closer to the cell. “Answer me, Xavier…was it all fake? Was I just a pawn? Someone disposable? Was I j-just being used?” Her shaky hands reached for the rusty bars, gripping them tight. “I was willing to let you mark me…at one point I was willing to choose yo—”

“But you didn’t choose me, did you? I can’t pick up your scent and yet I know Zillon’s mark’s on your neck. You weren’t going to choose me, Celeste! Doesn’t that make me a f*cking pawn too? I was being used as well…you didn’t love me and I knew it and yet…” He looked towards her. “That didn’t stop me from loving you.”