love us? Who? No one in their right mind. Therefore, she is either a drooling moron, or a psychotic in her own right. And she is neither. This is a temporary state. It will pass in time. All things pass in time.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Do you know what’s worse than arguing with other people? Arguing with yourself. Go away, shadow. Leave me be. I have no interest in hearing you whimper and wax poetic about how Cora Glass loves us. It is like a summer breeze. Beautiful and fleeting. And the winter chill will come again. Here’s my advice—enjoy it while it lasts.”
“I hate you!”
Rage filled him like an old friend. “You are nothing more than a petulant child! I would turn her into one of my puppets before I let myself love her. I would see her maimed and mauled before I lowered myself to such a degrading position. She is less irritating to have around than any of the other Family. I enjoy fucking her. Having her there to warm my bed and wet my cock is all I will ever want from her. I am Simon the Puppeteer! I do not love Cora Glass, and I never will!”
Silence. He craned his head around. His reflection was gone. In his place…was Cora. The look on her face told him that she had heard every word. Or at least every word that mattered.
“Cora…?” Adrenaline rushed him, as if he had been caught in the act of thievery. His heart might as well have sunk into the void beneath him.
She took a step back from the railing and shook her head. Tears escaped her eyes, and she swiped at them angrily. She said nothing as she turned to descend the stairs.
“Cora—wait.” He reached for her, but it did no good. Suspended as he was in the middle of the wooden tower, he couldn’t touch the railings.
She hesitated, but then took another step down.
“Wait. Wait!” He called for her, but she didn’t stop. “Come back! Come back here right now!” He hollered at her, trying to scare her. He tried to summon his strings, but his power failed him. He had no gifts in this place. No one did. No one but Ringmaster, who held the key to the structure. So he resorted to intimidation.
Which was a terrible idea, seeing as there was nothing more pathetic than a man hanging by his ankles.
And it worked just about as he would have expected.
Cora left. She disappeared into the darkness.
His anger cracked and failed. And he felt like the sad, scared boy in the darkness that he had been as a child. “Please. Please, Cora. Don’t—don’t go. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me here—”
His voice cracked. He hated it. He hated everything. But it, like everything else, was impotent and pointless. Cora was gone. His shadow was gone.
All he had was his own failures to keep him company.
And all he could do was weep.
4
Cora woke up in Simon’s arms. She moved away from him and sat up, running her hands through her hair, trying to steady her thoughts. It had been a long, long time since she’d woken up in tears.
It had been a long, long time since she’d been this heartbroken.
What did you expect was going to happen? How could you be so delusional? His shadow loves you because he’s desperate and insane. The rest of him doesn’t love you. He can’t, and he made it very clear he has no interest in trying. If you thought otherwise, you’re conceited and a fool.
Simon was still asleep. She looked down at him where he lay, naked, the sheets tossed carelessly over his waist. Even as upset as she was, she had to admit he was something to behold.
He was caught in the middle of a bad dream. His brow was furrowed, and he was muttering noises to himself. Some of them were barely discernable as words. “Don’t—don’t go—don’t—please…”
She forced herself not to feel any pity for him. Climbing out of bed, she put on a pair of pajamas. She wanted to slap him. Hit him. Beat him senseless. But it was a selfish need. This wasn’t his fault. Not really.
He never pretended to be anything other than what he is. He’s always been honest with me. I’m to blame for this. This is my mistake.
But she still wanted to smack him until his teeth rattled.
He tossed in the sheets. She had half a mind to walk out and leave him there. But when he whimpered