Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any unrecognizable characters and dialogue.
The flashlight clattered from Evie suddenly limp fingers. Without giving it a second thought, she yanked the drawer open, stomach turning in disgust. A faint, red glow permeated the room as the beating heart was revealed. Sickened by the realization that Henry was right, that her baby brother had always been right, Evie steeled her frayed nerves.
She looked around, eyes landing on a small box nearby. Decision made, she lunged for the box. With a deep inhale, and the box in hand, she reached into the drawer, fingers wrapping around the heart. It pulsed faintly beneath her fingers, though wasn't squishy or slimy as she had feared. To her bewilderment, the heart felt almost like a crystal.
"Evie!" Harry backed up several paces when she withdrew the heart. His wide eyes traveled rapidly between the heart and her own terrified gaze. He quickly took the small box from her free hand and opened it, holding it out for her. "Put it in here, princess."
Shaking, but unable to throw off the feeling that she had done this before, Evie carefully placed the heart in the box. Harry shut it and held it out to her, his expression one of distaste. Despite the strange feeling, Evie agreed with the sentiment. Out of everything Henry accused their mother of, this was the hardest truth to stomach.
"He was right." Evie whispered, holding the box close to her chest. Tears pricked at her eyes, despair threatening to choke her. "Henry." She elaborated when he glanced at her in question. "He was right. He was right about everything." Head aching, she blinding reached out with one hand, grateful when Harry tangled their fingers.
Choosing his words carefully, Harry decided now was the time. "I know." His whispered seemed to echo throughout the suddenly unbearable stillness of the chamber. Evie stared, expression bewildered and hurt. "I've known for a while, Evie. Since the day ye and I first kissed."
Gobsmacked, Evie could do nothing but stare for several minutes. Suddenly aware that her mouth was open, that she was gaping in what was a most unattractive manner, she snapped her jaw shut with a loud clacking sound. To his credit, Harry held her gaze, even when his expression was full of pained resignation.
He expected her to be furious, Evie realized. He expected her to laugh in his face, to berate him, to throw him away like so many others had done. Evie forced down the threat of tears at the thought that Harry expected her to hate him for keeping this secret from her. Though she was rather furious with him, not to mention rather hurt that he hadn't seen fit to tell her that he actually knew her brother had been right all this time, Evie let go.
She let go of the anger, the hurt, everything she'd been holding onto for the last few months.
Setting down the box carefully, Evie reached out to grasp Harry's limp fingers. He started at her touch, steely eyes widening when she raised her other hand to press against his chest. Beneath her fingers, she felt the steady thrum of his heartbeat, though it no longer brought her comfort. Clutched in her other hand, hidden beneath layers of wood, was a heart - Harry's heart.
Evie allowed her eyes to flick toward the wall of hearts, swallowing against the rising bile in her throat. A grip on her hand distracted her, drawing her attention back to Harry's chest where he'd covered her hand with his own.
"What are we gonna do, princess?"
Lacing her fingers with his own, Evie raised the heart box in her hand to eye level. "Whatever we do," she whispered, unable to hide the tremble in her voice. "We have to keep this safe from my mother. No matter what the cost."
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