I licked my lips. “He’s trying to create a new sort of person. Not…not even a person, really.” I took a long sip of the water. “He’s trying to create a god.”
Alex scoffed. “That’s impossible.”
I wanted to agree but could not. “You didn’t see the babies…. They had things about them that were so different. So wrong. So…”
Golden.
I shrugged helplessly.
“But if…if Father selected women with this special blood, with these divine parents or grandparents or second cousins or whatever it was…” He raked his fingers through his hair, struggling to get a handle on his thoughts. “Why are all the babies dead? Julien and Viktor and I…we lived. Why did all the others die?”
“Dauphine,” I murmured unhappily.
“Mother?”
“After seeing the powers that Viktor and Julien had…she changed her mind. She no longer supported what Gerard was doing. So she…she did what she could to stop him.” I took a deep breath. “She said that Gerard wasn’t the only one who knew what plants could do.”
Alex looked sick. “You think she poisoned the women? Their babies?”
“I’m certain of it,” I said, queasy.
“And Father didn’t know.”
It was a statement. Not a question.
“It’s why he keeps tinkering, trying out new mixtures, new bloodlines. He knows he did it right once before. He doesn’t understand why he keeps failing now.”
“Will Mother tell the authorities? Will she help us put Father away?”
“I think she could be persuaded.” I glanced up. “By you. She’s sleeping now, I’m sure. I think Bastian helped her to her rooms. But once she’s awake, talk with her. She loves you. So much. I know she’d do anything you asked.”
Alex nodded, not meeting my gaze.
“Is everything all right?”
He let out a bark of dark laughter.
“That’s a foolish question. Nothing is right, I know, but—”
“How long did you know about them?”
A shiver of alarm raced through me. “Julien and Viktor? Only, only a day. Not even that.”
He winced, clearly hurt. “How could you keep something—something so big—from me, for any time at all?”
“Alex, I wanted to tell you. I did. I promise.” I took both his hands in mine.
“He likes you, you know,” Alex said, his voice small and pinched. He still hadn’t looked at me. “Viktor. He flirts with you—so openly. Is that…is that why you didn’t tell me?”
“No,” I said, and I couldn’t tell if my answer was too hasty, giving off an air of guilt. “No, of course not.”
He blinked, his eyes distressingly bright. “I saw him standing beside you, walking beside you, and I just…I saw this picture of what we could have been like if it wasn’t for this chair. If I hadn’t fallen. There’re so many things we could have done, Verity. So many things I want to do and…” He wiped his hand over his face, pushing back the surge of emotions. “I’m jealous, I’m afraid. Bitterly jealous.”
I ran my tongue over the back of my teeth. It felt thick and heavy and incapable of expressing what raced through my mind. “I promise you, with all of my heart, there’s no comparing you two.” I cupped my hands to his face. “Viktor may have walked alongside me for an afternoon, but you’ll be with me all our lives. I’m so sorry you ever doubted you’re enough for me.”
“I feel like such a fool.”
“You’re not. But if you need to hear me say it—Alex, I love you. With all my depth and breadth. You’re the one I want. You’re the one I’m going to marry.”
