“No. I wanted to give you some privacy.”
Without further explanation, she stalks down the stairs.
“So that was your mother…” Mar finally says.
“Unfortunately. Some alternate version,” she mutters. Mar shakes her head, her brows knit together.
“Do you think we should tell Sorscha about this?”
“No. I don’t. She faked her own death to abandon her daughter and husband. Sorscha is better off without her. Trust me.”
“She would want to know?—”
“Then tell her, Mar.” Serena cuts her off, perturbed by whatever was said in that room. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to snap at you. She just gets under my skin like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Trust me, I feel the same way about my mother.”
The rest of the trip back is quiet and tense. I keep one eye on Serena at all times, wary of the drastic shift in her mood. She refuses to look at me. I keep pleading with her in my head,look at me, let me in.
But she doesn’t. She sets her jaw and seals herself up, leaving no opening for me.
“You guys go ahead. I’m going to take Furi out for a ride,” she says as we reach the grounds.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
You can tell me.
I need to be alone right now. Please just give me an hour.
“Of course,” I breathe.
Furi lands a moment later, kicking up a brutal wind. Serena mounts her with fluid ease. I stand there staring long after she disappears, a black dot skating past the moon.
63
SERENA
13 DAYS
The wind snaps at my face as we cut across the stars.
But it feels good. It reminds me I’m alive when I feel dead inside. Furi doesn’t press me to open up, which I’m grateful for. She lets me breathe, nudging against my mind every so often to remind me I’m not alone.
As we make our descent, Zadyn is making his way out of the castle toward us. I slide down, keeping my back to him.
“How was your ride?”
“Fine. Good.” I nod, smoothing Furi’s scales as he comes up beside me. His eyes burn into me like a brand.
“What?” I don’t mean to sound as nasty as I do.
“You’ve barely spoken a word since we left the city, Serena. What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I mutter.
“What did Margot say to you?”
“Nothing.”
