~ ZARA ~
"Darling," David breathed, his brows pinched and forehead lined. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just needed them to believe that I would."
"I know," I croaked. "I know, David. But… but this is the way it's always been with us. There's always one face to the world and another to each other. And I know… I get it now. That we have to do this, I know we do. And I will. I'll play along. But I need… I need something from you. I can't… I can't keep any more secrets from you, and I can't keep watching you pretend to hate me until I'm certain of you. Because this is hard and I'm afraid of you when you get like that. I don't want you to have questions about me. And I don't want to be afraid of you anymore, either."
David jerked. His eyes widened.
"What have I done to make you uncertain? That cut? I hated that, Zara. But I couldn't give them any reason to believe I won't hurt you right now. They have to believe we're enemies if this is going to work!"
