Expiration Date (Books 1 and 2)

33 All I Ask Of You (Reprise)

"In another time, another universe, I think I could have happily spent my life with you." Heaven save me. "You'll be surprised to learn my brother isn't happy you'll be leaving. He thinks you're the only thing keeping Erik here."

"I don't want Erik to think of me as his captor. And I don't want to be a pawn in his revenge plot. Sending me away doesn't have anything to do with keeping Erik from using my Mark?"

Of course, it has to do with that. He doesn't love you. His priority will always be the Society.

"I don't want to see you hurt. I love my cousin, but he blames the Society just as much as himself for Molly's death. He won't let himself rest until he's avenged her and what that means only he can decide. I don't want you caught up in it."

He keeps pushing the narrative that I'm dangerous. I got her out of the Society when Colton and Seong-ho exposed her. She would have remained safe if Jonas could have let her go. She would have been safe with her family, but he had to have her. He couldn't stand the idea that she'd be with me and that he wouldn't be in control of the Expired. He's made me out to be a villain and himself the hero. But he's far from perfect.

I'm the scapegoat for the Society. Blame it on Erik—he won't care. It doesn't matter that I'm the Tresais. The title doesn't come with respect if I'm the one who's holding it.

But not any longer. If the Society is going to unfairly blame me, I'll make it fair.

The two of them have been silent, and I look into the courtyard again only to have my stomach churn.

They're entangled in each other.

Iris really has chosen him.

She's chosen the Society over justice for the family she grew up with, over my justice for Molly.

I dig my hands into the hedge, leaves and twigs crunching in my palms.

I gave her life, and she throws it away on him.

I hoped Iris wouldn't fall for the Society. I wanted her to ask to come to me and ask for help to make the Society pay.

But now I can see that won't be happening. She might as well be one of them, and I won't let myself be used by my family—the Society any longer.

I retrace my steps through the maze, letting Iris stay under the impression he's sending her away for love and not to protect the Society.

I enter the house through a different way, wanting to avoid my cousins in the lounge, and make my way to my room. My heart pounds anxious and desperate to be free of them.

August can become Tresais. He'll be thrilled. Oh they'll act furious, but they'll really only be relieved that I'm gone. Until I can strike them in their hearts.

In my room, I fill a duffle bag with necessities, including two guns. I tuck another one into the waistband of my pants. I ditch my phone for one my family doesn't know I own and then I grab a stack of cash.

Zipping up the bag, I throw it over my shoulder and before I step out the door, I take one last glance around my room. It hasn't been my room for that long. It holds none of the memories my room at the old Estate held.

This room is just a prison. One meant to placate me, to make me think they cared enough about my mental wellbeing to move Estates.

If I go down the main staircase, I'll be sure to be seen. Instead, I take one of the hidden ones. They make getting around an Estate of this size easier and serve as a safety measure during rebel attacks.

When I reach the right floor, I leave my bag on the staircase and push open the door. The dungeons are nearly empty with Vienna the only current prisoner. There are two Veil guarding her cell.

"Tresais." They both bow.

Vienna looks up, her blonde hair disheveled and tangled.

"Unlock the cell. The Beta wishes to see her."

The one on the right quickly moves to obey while Vienna scrambles to her feet.

Once the door is open, I walk inside and grab Vienna by the arm, hauling her out the cell and away from the Veil.

Both the main staircase and the hidden ones are out of the guards' view. I push against the wall where the door to the hidden staircase is located and tug her inside, only letting her go once the door is firmly shut.

Brushing herself off, she stares at me.

"Can you get me to a base?"

"What?"

"A rebel base."

"I know what you meant. If I didn't betray them to Colton, I'm not going to betray them for you.

"I don't want you to betray them. I want to help them."

Her eyes widen, and she glances up the staircase. "You're joking."

I raise an eyebrow.

"You're asking me to betray the Society even more than I already have."

"You're young, Vienna. Do you really want to spend time rotting away in a cell? Return to the rebels and you're free."

"Free? Colton won't just let me disappear."

"Once they realize I've joined the rebels you will be the least of their concerns."

Her eyes narrow. "How flattering."

"Vienna, we don't have all the time in the world."

"How do I know you won't turn the rebels into the Society?"

"If threatening to reveal my family's secrets to the world wasn't enough to convince you, I'm not sure what to tell you."

"You did it to get Iris out."

At the mention of her name, I tense. "Iris has chosen to listen to Jonas's lies. I know we haven't gotten to know each other well but you at least know the resent I feel toward my family."

She's silent again, eyes following the stairs up. "How do you plan to get me out?"

I scoop up my duffle bag. "I'm so glad you've asked."