TWENTY-FIVE
The visions came nearly nonstop, and not one of them eased my loss or my guilt. If anything, they left me hollowed out. And made me terrible company.
Everyone tiptoed around me. Even Lysander, who seemed at a loss how to pull me out of what he believed was only grief. Because I hadn't told him about my bargain with the Mothers. Or how powerless I was to stop the onslaught of visions, or the emotions that accompanied them.
He'd told me, more times than I could count, to be kinder to myself. To remember, Violet had left us little choice. None of those platitudes would mean a thing to my parents, though.
The question had prompted me to forbid any mention of Violet's departure in correspondence sent home. I wanted them to hear it from me. And only me. Not that it would soften t
