Sneak Peek (Patreon)

I'm coding in some last additions to the chapter (it's so close, I swear!), and this angsty path was so hard to write 😭. Alessa my darling, only I know how much this guts you.

This happens in the worst possible outcome, so most people aren't likely to see it. Let me share this here instead.

-

You turn your head back at Alessa, watching her apprehensive eyes on Hadrian. "Are you sure I'm equipped to answer?" you ask, tone hissing like a snake. "Being the liability of the group?"

Alessa snaps her head at you, her eyes betraying her surprise. It doesn't last long, as it never does with Alessa, but within the blue, you see the hurt too.

"Let us not bring what is buried," she says, voice a whisper too.

Your chuckle is dark. "So, it's buried now?"

*if Friend

Alessa lowers her head. "'Tis not the time," she hisses. "Nor is this the place."

You scoff. "Was Mist's office the time and place?"

"I know not. Were it?" Alessa challenges. "You were the one escalating and now act as if you are a victim!"

You bare your teeth. "What a friend you are, Alessa," you say. "I doubt you truly know the meaning of the word. You only know servitude, don't you? Tarek matters more to you than all else. Even the people who care about you. Rafael was right, Alessa. This was never meant to last."

Her face opens in shock, and then, it contorts in anger. "Leave," Alessa sizzles, in a low shout that comes from deep in her chest. Her blue eyes shine with angry tears.

And you do.

You turn on your heels and go. Your mark burns a hole in your palm.

*set Alessa_Enemy true

*set Alessa_Friend false

*goto Salina_Chamber

*if Romance

Alessa takes a half-step towards you. "Some things matter more than you," she hisses.

You scoff bitterly, putting distance between you. "That's obvious," you say. "Tarek matters more to you than all else. Even the people who care about you. Even the ones who might have come to love you. Maybe Rafael was right, Alessa. This was never meant to last."

Her face opens in shock, falls in pain, and then, at last, it contrasts in anger. "Leave," Alessa sizzles, in a low shout that comes from deep in her chest. Her blue eyes shine with angry tears.

And you do.

You turn on your heels and go. Your mark burns a hole in your palm.

*set Alessa_Romance false

*set Alessa_Enemy true

*set Alessa_Break true

*goto Salina_Chamber