Whisper (Whisper #1)(95)

I swallow thickly and whisper, “So I … Hypothetically, I can choose to not Speak if I … don’t want to?”

Kael is silent for a moment, and then he walks slowly back until he’s beside my bed. He leans down close, his eyes soft on me. “Princess, you can do whatever you want.”

Then he leans in even closer, presses a barely there kiss to my forehead, offers me a gentle smile and walks away, closing the door behind him as he leaves the room.

It takes me a moment before I’m able to fill my lungs again, let alone hold back the renewed tears that blur my eyes.

I’m free. The choice is now mine.

I’m no longer a slave to my words; I no longer have to fear the possibility that I may accidentally hurt — or kill — someone. But despite that, I know I’m not truly free — not yet. Because there are still things I need to do.

I have friends to save. Other Speakers. Normal humans.

And then there’s Ward. I don’t know where I stand with him or how I feel about everything he did, but he helped me, protected me, and I’m determined to return the favor. I will free him.

With everything I am, with all that is within me, I’ll do whatever it takes to save them — all of them.

That is my choice. And I will see it through.

Until the very end.





EPILOGUE


My name is not “Jane Doe.”

I’m not referred to as an unidentifiable, breathing corpse anymore. “Jane Doe” is gone, as is “JD,” “Subject Six-Eight-Four,” even “Chip.” I may still be known by these names, but they are not who I am. Because who I am is who I’ve been all along. I’ve just been too afraid to accept it; too afraid to accept me.

My name is not “Jane Doe,” and from now on, I won’t be afraid of who I am, of what I can do.

I am a Creator, but I am not a monster.

I can do the unimaginable; I can Speak the impossible into being. But most important, I can now control it.

And I will be ready for what comes next.

No, I am ready.

Because I am Alyssa Scott.

And I am no longer afraid to be me.

I.

Am.

Free.