Chapter 16: August - Twisted Vows

Her hand is on mine.

The thought sliced through August’s mind as he awoke a few hours later in the dimness of his room. Wren was still beside him on the floor, eyes shut, her chest rising and falling slowly as she took long, deep breaths. Her right hand was extended, placed upon his, as if she had been reaching for him in the night.

August watched their joined hands for an extended moment. He wanted to hold on to the image as long as he possibly could. He wanted to pretend, if just for a moment, that he was capable of feeling this way forever.

But August knew that was just a fairy tale. A dwindling hope. And when the reality of what he was meant to do in a few hours struck him like a bullet to the heart, he tore his hand from Wren’s, pushing himself away from her.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, though he knew the words would never be enough. Not after this. Not after what he was about to do. It’s better this way, August told himself. Better that she hated him now than hang on to this false sense of hope any longer.

Because Wren Loughty was destined to become the catalyst of destruction.

And Augustine Hughes was destined to stand back, helpless, and watch.