LOGINVivienne "Because I didn't want you to hear something like this from a stranger.""You are a stranger, Jace." I almost smiled at the irony as the words landed between us.“Yeah.” His expression fell slightly. "I suppose I am."“Listen,” I looked down at my hands. "I don't know who you are anymore.""I know.""And I don't know what I'm supposed to do with any of this." The words were like lead on my tongue, but I continued anyway. "You don't have to figure it out tonight."I looked at him and for the first time since he'd arrived, he didn't seem to be trying to convince me of anything. He simply sat there, watching me with an expression I remembered from years ago.A little sadness and a little concern that was familiar enough to hurt."I really did think you were dead," I whispered."I know." His eyes dropped."I wasn't pretending.” I went on. “I wasn't exaggerating when I said I buried you. I had to live with that and for the longest time…” I trailed off, not knowing what else to
Vivienne For several seconds, I couldn't bring myself to speak.I stared at Jace, waiting for him to elaborate, but he seemed just as content to let the silence stretch between us."What did you find out?" My fingers tightened around the edge of the table.Instead of responding, he glanced down briefly before reaching inside his jacket."What are you doing?" My body stiffened."Relax." He slowly withdrew a folded piece of paper and placed it on the table between us. "It's a document, Vivienne. Not a weapon.""Forgive me if I'm not particularly comfortable with you reaching inside your jacket." I snapped. "Fair enough." A faint, almost rueful smile crossed his face as he unfolded the paper and turned it towards me.I looked down.At first, I didn't understand what I was looking at. There were dates, reference numbers, official-looking stamps, and several lines of information that meant very little to me."What is this?" I glanced from the paper to his face. "Something I came across
Vivienne "You're alive." I stared at him, my fingers trembling against the tabletop."I am." His expression shifted, holding something that was too close to a smirk. Two words..Two ordinary words, spoken as though he hadn't just dismantled the reality I'd spent years living in.I let out a small, disbelieving laugh immediately. It wasn't amusement, but shock, disbelief, and something dangerously close to anger."You're alive," I repeated."Can I sit?" Jace glanced at the empty seat opposite me."Are you seriously asking me that?" I stared at him.He hesitated, then he pulled the seat out and sat down. For several seconds, neither of us spoke. I looked at him, searching his face for something familiar enough to reassure me that I wasn't losing my mind.Eventually, I found it. The small scar near his eyebrow, the one he'd gotten when we'd been teenagers and he'd insisted he could jump over a fence without hurting himself.I'd laughed at him for weeks. I remembered touching that scar
Vivienne I had changed my outfit three times.The first dress was too formal, the second made me look as though I was going somewhere romantic, which was the last impression I wanted to give, while the third was a simple pair of black jeans, a cream blouse, and a jacket.I stared at myself in the mirror for a long moment before deciding I looked sufficiently ordinary.As though I wasn't about to meet a man I'd buried.The thought made my stomach twist as I checked my phone again.I had spent most of the afternoon trying not to think about the meeting. I'd reorganized the small stack of books on the bedside table, attempted to read a few pages of a novel, and even gone downstairs to help Callie with something at the bar.None of it worked because my mind kept returning to the same questions.How was Jace alive? Why had he let me believe he was dead? And, perhaps most painfully, why had he waited until now to find me?Callie had noticed my distraction almost immediately.She'd caugh
Vivienne’s POV Something in my voice must have finally registered because the amusement in her expression faded.For a moment, she studied me as though she were trying to decide what I was hiding, then she scoffed and shoved the phone toward me."Fine. Keep your secrets.""Thank you." I snatched it from her hand."Don't thank me.” Her eyes shone with something I couldn't quite name. “I haven't done anything worth thanking.""That makes two of us." I replied and Callie coughed into her fist."You know, I almost feel sorry for you." Lana shot her an irritated look before turning back to me."Well,that's unfortunate.” I blinked. “I was hoping you'd save your sympathy for someone who wanted it.""You think this is funny?" Her mouth tightened."No.” I shook my head gently. “I think you're exhausting.""Enjoy your little meeting, Vivienne." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "But don't come crying to Ronan when your secrets come back to bite you."“What's that supposed to mean?” My
Vivienne "Who exactly are you meeting tonight?"For a moment, I could only stare at Lana. She held my phone in one hand, her eyes moving between the screen and my face, and the slow smile spreading across her lips made me want to snatch the device out of her grip and throw it across the room."What the hell is wrong with you?" I demanded."Excuse me?" Lana raised an eyebrow."You heard me.” I snapped. “Give me my phone.""Why are you getting so worked up?" She tilted the screen toward herself again. "I'm only asking a question.""And I'm telling you to give me my property." I hated how my voice was rising by the second, but Lana left me no choice. "Vivienne," Callie warned from beside us, her voice tight with irritation. Not towards me, but Lana. "She's not worth it.""I know." My gaze didn't leave Lana. "Do you?" Lana snorted. "Because you look awfully nervous for someone who claims she has nothing to hide."“Listen to me.” I took a step toward her. "Lana, I'm going to ask you
Vivienne's POV I wasn't sure how long I stood there after Ronan disappeared, but I knew it was long enough for the music from the party to filter in again. It was a cruel reminder that the world kept moving, even when mine was threatening to fall apart. The picture burned in my hand, and I shoved
Vivienne's POV I'd heard of people making deals with other people, just to realize they had made the wrong choice. I'd made a deal with the devil, they always said, but honestly, I wasn't one to believe them. I always thought that the right thing to do, was to make background checks about whoever
Vivienne’s POV I slowly peeled my eyes open, and what I saw next, wasn't what I'd expected at all. I'd woken up to warmth. Solid and steady warmth. My head swirled a bit, but somehow, whatever I was laying on, served like some sort of cushion I had no idea I needed. From the corner of my eyes, I
Vivienne’s POV I sucked in a deep breath as I stood at the entrance to the church. I wasn't an overly religious person, but even I knew there was something wrong here. The entire building looked run down, like it had seen better days. The stained glass windows didn't catch the light, instead,they







