Part 2Mine to Claim

At 11:46 PM, he came.

“He’s on the rooftop, talking with your sister,” Leo told me.

“Okay!” I was practically vibrating with joy, ready to sprint up the stairs. Leo grabbed my arm again.

“Skye, please listen to me. Go on up, fine. But whatever you see, you have to be able to handle it.”

“What is there to handle?” I brushed him off, unconcerned.

I ran up to the rooftop, the name “Addison” ready on my lips. But the word caught in my throat, a hard, painful lump.

I saw my sister, the one who had cherished and protected me my whole life.

She reached up and untied the silk bow at her chest.

She took Addison’s hand, which was resting at his side, and brought it up, placing it over her heart.

“Addison, I’m in love with you,” she said, her voice trembling but clear. “I don’t know when it started, but by the time I realized it, it was too late to turn back. I know this is wrong, I know it’s not fair to Skye, but my feelings for you… they are just as strong as hers.”

My own heart leaped into my throat. I prayed silently, fiercely.

Reject her! Addison! You’re so good at rejecting people!

But heaven wasn’t listening.

I watched as Addison raised his hand. His fingers were gentle, deliberate. He took the ribbons of her undone bow and slowly, carefully, tied them back together.

Then he opened his arms and pulled her into a hug.

His lips moved, but I couldn’t hear the words. Of course, I didn’t want to hear them.

A tear slid down my cheek, a hot, silent drop that felt like it was falling straight into my soul.

The two people I loved most in the world.

On my birthday.

Betraying me. Together.