CHAPTER FORTY
LOUISA ENDLESS
I woke, in the morning, to the feeling of someone kissing my neck. My nose was filled with the smell of flowers, like fresh spring. “Flora,” I whispered. She kissed my neck again.
“This used to be your favorite thing,” she said.
I wriggled out of her grasp, getting up from the bed. “You have used my family as a bargaining chip. I can’t be with someone who would do that, Flora.”
“You told me that you wanted us to be together.” Her eyes were filled with hurt. “You told me that you would come back for me, and you never did.”
I swallowed. “Flora, I tried. I tried coming to get you so many times. But Ivy’s too powerful. You know that as well as I do, and if I’m to keep people safe, I can’t…I can’t put my heart above duty.”
“I know,” said Flora, “but yo
