“Of course he plans to meddle,” I roll my eyes.
“His favourite hobby,” she smirks, and for a fleeting moment, I feel normal. Then her expression shifts, as if she wants to say something more.
“Out with it,” I order her.
“You missed my mating. You were supposed to be my best mate. Do you even understand how important that was, or are you too ignorant to care?”
And there it is. She never has been one to mince words.
“I thought you were happy about that.” The words sound pathetic, even to me. Especially to me.
“That’s not the point.” She folds her arms. “We promised we’d be each other’s witnesses. You know how important that was to me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “What can I do to make it better?”
“You can’t. That’s the problem.” Her voice weighed down with pain and anger, yet she still sounds the same. “I’ll always remember that you didn’t care enough to be there for me.”
“That’s fair,” I murmur. “At least let me give you your mating gift.”
Her eyes flicker with curiosity.
I reach into my satchel, pull out a small key, and press it into her hand. “Here. Your summer house.”
“You bought me a summer house?” She stares at it, incredulous. “That… makes it a little better.”
“Are you really afraid of me, Sam?” I ask, the question slipping out, heavy with hope that maybe it’s not the case.
“I am, sometimes,” she admits. “After what happened—with everyone… You never talked about it. But what Chief Gerald said—what he claimed happened—I want to believe there’s a reasonable explanation.”
I stop breathing. My power hums beneath my skin, but stays obediently; I guess the drain helped.
“But you’ve been my friend since I was a little girl,” she whispers. “I wanted you there.”
It stings, but I accept it. “I’m sorry, my head wasn’t in the right place at that moment. It still isn’t.”
“You felt too much, didn’t you? You let your guard down for Jestin and got scared?” She asks, knowing me. She doesn’t seem to fear me, not enough to stop questioning my decisions.
“Pretty much,” I say, avoiding the fact that it is not a full picture at all.
“He deserves better,” she says, shocking me. I stare at her determined expression.
After a heartbeat, she lowers her head, her blond bangs falling to cover her nose, shielding some of that quiet strength.
“I know,” I admit and it tastes bitter on my tongue. My heart races, chest tight, as if speaking it aloud has pulled a thread in me that I can’t stitch back.
Chapter 6
Cut conversations were what got to me. Even the famous singer performing Solstice songs doesn’t make up for the instant silence. Instant staring.
One thought plays on repeat as I stroll through the rows of polished benches in the gathering hall. If I trip over, I will be the gossip of the century yet again. That realisation alone makes me raise my chin high and put one foot after the other, concentrating on the tap of my heels on the marble floor.
My stomach sinks as I walk by those who once respected me, friends and allies who now turn away.
I pass a family who used to dine with us every Solstice, always bringing gifts for me and Trisha. Now I don’t even dare to interpret their scowls.
Especially not now, with my nemesis walking straight towards me.
Fuck this day.
