He must sense what I’m thinking because he swiftly says, “I swear I didn’t know the society was going to do that. If I had, I would’ve stopped it.”
“Would you have even had the power to do that?” I wonder as I release River’s hand, but only to scratch my wrist. Anxiety is whispering through me over the subject.
His lips pull into a frown. “Well, I probably couldn’t have stopped them from trying, but if I had known, I would’ve come to you and warned you.”
I study him closely, searching for lies hidden in his eyes. But genuine honesty is flowing from every inch of him, so either he’s a fantastic liar, or he’s telling the truth.
“Fine, I believe you.” I sigh heavily, exhaustion flooding my body.
River pulls out a chair at the table. “Sit down. The doctor said you need to rest.”
Finn is mid-bite in his sandwich and pauses. “You saw a doctor?”
“Only because your brother was persistent.” I sink into the chair and lower my head into my hands. “Apparently, I have a concussion and have to take a few days off from training.” I pull a face, but my hands conceal it.
“Jesus, Mads,” Finn mutters. “I didn’t realize …” A shaky breath eases from his lips. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve been paying more attention, but I was distracted by something else.”
“It was an important something else.” River takes a seat beside me. “Something to do with you.”
I lift my head, my brows pulling together as I look at him. “What’s going on?”
River glances at Finn. I track his gaze just as Finn blows out the heaviest sigh. Then he slants forward and rests his arms on top of the table. He slips a ring off his finger then on again.
“The reason I was so distracted and didn’t realize what the society was up to was because I was digging into some stuff about you and that necklace.”
I perk up at that. “Did you find something out?”
“We both did,” River explains, trading a hesitant look with Finn before looking at me. “You remember how I was getting the necklace looked at by an appraiser?”
“Shit, I forgot about that.” I shake my head. “My mind is a little more messed up than I thought.”
“You have a concussion.” He lightly brushes his fingers across the side of my head. “Of course, your mind is going to struggle.”
He has a valid point.
“What did you find out?” I ask then direct my attention to Finn. “And you? What did you find out?”
Finn repeatedly continues to slip that ring on and off, a nervous fidget evidently.
“The necklace is genuine,” River finally answers, rotating in the chair to face me. “The appraiser confirmed it.”
“Okay.” I absorb what he says with a frown. “So, I’m guessing my aunt stole it or something?”
“Would she do that?” Finn asks, crossing his arms on the table.
“I don’t know. Stealing isn’t her thing.” I waver, resting back in the chair. “It’s my father’s thing. And sometimes my mother’s. My aunt was always the more stable one.” Or, well, that’s what I believed.
But with the text she sent me, I’m questioning everything I know.
“There’s more,” Finn proceeds with heavy reluctance. “I looked into the family name that necklace is linked to—Everford.”
“River told me about that.” I shift my weight as this horrible feeling overcomes me that something terrible is about to happen. “He said the bloodline was extinct.”
“From everything I found out, that’s true.” Finn thrums his fingers on top of the table. “I also found out why. And it’s …” A visible shiver rolls through his body. “It’s bad. It’s really bad, especially if you are linked to the family somehow.”
“I’m not,” I insist, growing frustrated. River brought this idea up, too, and it’s completely implausible. “I don’t have royal blood in me. There’s no way …” I trail off, my mind drifting back to that message my aunt sent.
I’m not who you think I am.
