Fuck.
The scream ripped from my lungs, tearing the viscera as it went. Leaving me breathless. I didn’t realize I’d punched the wall until I was staring at the plaster around my knuckles.
Then Story’s scream pierced, before it abruptly cut off.
Like a sick tick of the clock, silence weighed in its wake.
>
“Go,” I told Lottie. “Get out while you can.”
“But—”
“I can’t protect you both at once!” I gritted. I gripped her shoulders, bruising her, trying to get her to see the truth.
“If it comes down to it, Lottie, I’ll choose her. So go. Get out.”
Get out before I became everything I warned West I would be.
Before I tried to use Lottie to save Snitch.
Her brow furrowed. “I’ll try to find help. I’ll wait for you both in the tunnels.”
I reached into West’s hand, grabbing the coin and the locket.
“Just save yourself,” I said, then ran in the direction of Story’s scream.
I found my grandfather in the ballroom. It was dark, and the only light came from the moon reflecting off the chandelier. Story was held to her knees by one of my grandfather’s guards.
Her fucking knees.
My vision blacked; I took a step to my grandfather, ready to strangle him. When Story cried out.
“Grayson, don’t! This is what he wants!”
She was clearly in pain. Breathing through her nostrils, jaw clenched tight. How much longer did she have until the baby came? How was this stress affecting the baby? How the fuck was she even upright?
I had one single thought: get Story and our baby out, no matter the cost to me.
I rushed toward her—to be immediately torn back, an arm at my neck. I fought, ripping at his hold until my muscles screamed. Until the man at my back screamed and fell to the ground.
I went right back for her.
“I wouldn’t,” my grandfather said, and a moment later, Story cried out. I froze mid-step as the man at her back lashed her with his belt.
“Every step you take is one welt for her.” My grandfather turned to Story. “See? I was right. Your gallant hero could never resist the urge to save you.”
Story’s watery eyes found mine.
I ground my teeth. “She’s having a baby. You’re fucking sick.”
“You know how to end this, Grayson. I’m sure four coins is enough for her.”
I paused—four?
I tore my eyes from Story, to my grandfather.
“Yes, four coins. Did you really think I was going to sit back while you threw away my life’s work? I have plans bigger than you, bigger than your precious little love story, that have been in the works for half a goddamn century.” He laughed, shaking his head. “Your father never understood their importance. He was going to waste them all, just like you. But here we are. Fate has corrected itself.”