I raise a brow, but he doesn’t look at me.
Sighing, I turn to Ishla. “Treats?”
“So many treats,” she gushes, setting a tray on the desk. “And when I passed by the prince, Iinsistedhe tag along because, let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite like watching you devour something sweet.” She grins, her tone light and teasing, and I can’t help but feel a swell of affection for her. “And after this morning's news, I figured we’d all need a little pick-me-up.” Her expression shifts, the light in her eyes fading, and my smile falters.
“What happened this morning?” I ask, and she looks at Jax.
He gives her a slight nod, his jaw tensing even more.
“Village 50 is gone,” she says, clutching the fabric of her apron to her chest.
I blink. Then blink again. “What do you mean…gone?” I take a step toward her, failing to understand.
“The volcano. The one that’s always sat dormant, news just reached the palace…” Her gaze grows distant, and dread fills every crevice in my heart. “It erupted. The entire village…every person…they’re just—”
She wipes the tear from her eye, and I do the same, my chest feeling unbearably heavy.
I knew the earthquakes had been getting worse. My mother once said she’d never felt a single one until the night I was born. But since then…our village has suffered from tremors nearly every year.
But a volcano erupting?One that has existed in a dormant state since the planet's inception?
I can’t help but wonder how much longer Eleclestial has. Even with the forced limitations on our population…the world isstilldying.
It has been for over one hundred years.
The silence lingers, feeling thick and suffocating. I look at Jax, but still he says nothing. His brows are creased, and I wonder if his mind is even in the room with us. He seems lost in a different world, a different thought.
My attention shifts back to Ishla just as she shakes her head and forces a smile. “But enough talk about sad things. I came here to feel a bit of happiness, and I was hoping chocolate pecan muffins would do the trick.” She yanks the lid off the tray, as if the scent of baked goods alone could erase the weight of the tragedy.
I muster a smile to match her own before reaching for the most chocolate-laden muffin in the center of the tray.
But Jax is faster than me, and he plucks the muffin I’d been reaching for and slowly brings it to his lips.
My jaw drops.
“Hey!” I shout, grabbing his wrist to keep the muffin from reaching its destination.
He grins, a drastic change from his earlier expression, but then Ishla gasps.
“Serafina!” she exclaims, her voice both alarmedandhorrified.
I glance at her, puzzled by her reaction, and find her staring at my hand where it grips Jax’s wrist. Her expression isn’t just startled, it’s downright incredulous. She doesn’t even blink, her eyes fixed on us like she’s witnessing something truly scandalous.
Her gaze doesn’t lift, and I let go immediately as realization crashes over me.
Shit.
Are they together?
The thought had crossed my mind the first day I came here, but I haven’t much considered it since.
Guilt churns in my stomach. Guilt, and anger, and resentment, and so many other things I don’t care to analyze.
“Ishla, I…” I don’t know what to say, but this is awkward, so very awkward.
“I’m gonna go,” Ryjax says, eyeing us both like he has no idea what’s going on. He closes the door behind him, taking my muffin with him.
Bastard.
