Exported [Book 3 in the Expiring Series]

58 A Stolen Title

Jonas~~

Jonas,

I'm sure you're surprised to be receiving this letter. Believe me, it's a surprise to even be writing it, but Basile wouldn't give me any peace until I did.

Although we are cousins, we have no feelings for one another that are familial. You are everything I hate in this world— you are the definition of the Society, and I will never regret what I did. I knew it was your Expiration Date. I knew the bomb would kill you—should have killed you. Until I found out Iris was Expired, I had no idea how the Date I had seen on your skin was wrong. It's tormented me—mocked me since that day.

Despite that—despite everything, I did not give Iris to the Amoris to hurt you. I would not bring her into our fight. It would make me no better than you. I only did what I did to save Basile, a feeling I'm sure you must understand because both of our loves can die at a moment's notice.

If you hadn't exiled me, I never would have met him. This apology for Iris is because of that.

I still hate you with my entire being. Loathe you really. All around can't stand you. But I do hope you're able to save her—for her sake. She deserves better than you—better than any of my cousins, but maybe you can do this one thing right and save her life.

Andrew

Taped to the bottom of the letter is a picture of Andrew and Basile spread out on beach chairs covered in sand. Basile's asleep, and Andrew gives me a vulgar gesture with his hand.

To have sent me this letter, he had to have known I returned to the palace.

I fold the letter and let it fall onto the desk.

I have to do this.

I want to do this.

She would do the same for me.

She has done the same for me.

Behind me, a fire crackles in the hearth, the heat from it warms my back through my cotton shirt. A servant came by my room and lit it almost two hours ago.

Andrew's letter is not the reason I'm doing this.

I tuck the letter into a fresh envelope, and I take my time as I write my brother's name across it. Déjà vu is thick in the air, taking me back to my Expiration Date when I finished writing a letter to him, insisting he would make a great Preeminence and saying goodbye to him. Emotions thick in my chest, I set Andrew's letter down on top of the letter I have already written for my brother. Underneath Colton's are letters for Gwen and my parents.

I douse the fire and finish getting ready, trading my dress shoes for sneakers and patting the bullet proof vest underneath my shirt to check that it's secure. I tuck a gun into the waistband of my pants and slip a sheathed knife into my back pocket.

Living past my Expiration Date to save another person would not be a bad fate.

Not at all.

I lock the door behind me, knowing Colton has the spare key, and make my way through the palace halls. I pass a few guards who stop and bow. With it being late in the night, the palace is quiet.

It was four days ago that Mid'haa was found. Four days since I heard that Iris was alive, but with every day that passes, I fear we're only closer to discovering the next body, this time with a note that says my fiancée is dead. Mid'haa awoke two days ago. She told us everything that happened to her. Told us that Iris looked to be wasting away while Bently had been taken away from his cell and never returned.