Chapter Forty
Triggers: graphic descriptions of torture and murder.
A sher and Bellamy make their way to the dungeons, where Asher learns Bellamy had put Sterling.
Asher tells Bellamy that she is not mad at him for not telling her about Adbeel and that they have all made mistakes or kept secrets.
They hear screaming.
Asher runs forward, thinking it must be Sterling.
However, when they get to the cell where the screams are coming from, she discovers it is not Sterling’s cell at all—it’s Xavier’s.
She watches as Ranbir tortures Xavier, telling him that it is retribution for Mia killing Winona.
Asher talks down Ranbir, telling him he is better than that.
She convinces him to leave with the promise that she will take care of it.
Xavier thanks Asher and says he loves her, to which Asher says that she only did it for Ranbir’s sake.
Then Asher begins taking Xavier’s memories.
She tells Xavier he did not love her enough.
She takes any important memory she could use and then she forces him to light himself on fire.
When she stops, he asks if it will be her who kills him.
Asher smiles and says that she has heard that marriage means “what’s mine is yours,” so she feels it necessary to share with her fiancé.
Bellamy tells Xavier that he is doing this for all the times he hurt Asher, and then he dismembers him and rips out his heart before burning the remains.
The pair go on to find Sterling and bring him to Ranbir in the infirmary.
Ranbir thanks Asher for stopping him.
The Trusted come to greet Asher, as well as Farai, Jasper, Nicola, and Kafele.
Henry brings Genevieve, who reunites with Sterling.
Genevieve punches Asher for killing her people.
Everyone gets defensive, but Asher calms them all down and apologizes to Genevieve.
Ranbir says that it appears that Sterling’s brain has been through some sort of trauma.
Asher tells Genevieve and Sterling that they will stay the night.
Nicola tells everyone that she leads the rebels and has a vision that someone will come to see Bellamy that night.
Asher also announces to everyone that she and Bellamy are engaged.