LIX

I expected scorn from Isaac when he learned my real deepest, darkest secret. The transgressions of a foolish child convinced she knew enough to save the world. So many of my choices since my mother’s sacrifice had been as atonement for the sacrifice I failed to make.

I didn’t expect him to keep me firmly positioned on his lap and pull out his phone to start making phone calls. Start marking a plan. As if anything they could do would save me from myself at this point. From what I understood from overhearing only half of his conversations, he felt there was more to my past mistake. Something that lingered other than just residual guilt. He didn’t seem to see that all that was truly necessary was for someone to pay for taking my mother instead of me.

His hands absently combed through my hair as he focused on his conversation with Bram. New theories were floating around, but as they were only half spoken, I couldn’t piece them together. He handed me the phone, though, and I just stared