A War Between Heart And Head

[William’s POV]

I don’t fight Elise as she begins to lead me away from my brooding cousin. While we move, I can feel his gaze burning into my back and know that when I return later, I’m going to have to deal with his wrath, but given the tense atmosphere between the two earlier, this was for the best in the end.

“Thanks for playing along,” Elise sighs once we are out of earshot. “Sorry for using you.”

As she speaks, she untangles her arms, but before she can fully release me, I reach out and grab her hand and hold it in place.

“Are you just going to use me and throw me away?” I ask. “You and that sister of yours truly are the same.”

“The same.” Elise repeats, her voice dripping with venom. “Then why was one of us kept and the other thrown away?”

At her words, I feel my heart squeeze with sympathy.

"Unfortunately, I’m not the one that can answer that,” I admit, knowing this wasn’t the answer she wanted. “You should go straight to the source.”

“Mmmm.”

Tugging herself free, Elise wraps h