The corners of Amador’s mouth scooped down, and she scoffed. “You’re not,” Amador said, but I could tell she believed me, even if she didn’t want to.
“I am,” I said, glaring at her.
“No, no way. That’s not possible—”
“You heard about the feral manananggal attack in the city? It was me. I didn’t know what was happening then, and it’s only getting worse.”
“And were you planning on telling me before I went marching off into the woods with you?”
My face got hot with anger. “It’s not like I asked for this,” I said. “I don’t know what’s happening to me, and frankly, you’re the last person I want to know about it.”
“Who else knows?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Who else?” she asked again. There was something in her tone, though, that didn’t have the edge I had expected.
“Nix.”
“That’s it?”
“Go ahead, make fun of the girl with one friend. Does it feel good?”
But Amador only huffed, and she rolled her eyes.
“The faster we get out of here,” I said, “the faster I can get back to my room and lock myself up so no one gets hurt.”
Amador fell silent, staring at the jungle with a stony expression equal to mine.
“I know it’s hard for you to empathize. You’re the one with the perfect life, the perfect fiancé, the future. So you win, I guess.”
At the wordfiancé, Amador’s eyes darted to me. A paleness fell across her face, and she lifted her chin. “You don’t know me at all.”
“You haven’t exactly been the most fun person I’ve met since I’ve come here.”
Amador looked a little guilty, but the snootiness didn’t leave her face. “How do you stop turning into a monster?”
“Why do you care? Once it’s permanent, you’ll never have to see me again.”
“Shut up!” Amador snapped. “I want to help you!”
“Why? You have done nothing but make my life miserable ever since I met you.”
I could feel her anger radiating toward me, and it felt good to finally call her out.
“I have until the full moon. And then it’ll be permanent. Before that, someone has to make a vow of true love, probably marry me, and the curse will be broken. But you’ve stolen the only person I’ve cared about.” Of course, I didn’t need to say his name. We both knew where we stood on that front.
Amador’s eyes were round as she looked at me. “Lucas?”
“Yeah,” I said. Admitting it felt good, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It didn’t change anything, but it felt nice to say it. “That’s who you could smell in the flower, right? Rose and mint?” I scoffed. “Not like you care. You can’t help but parade him around in front of me. So my options are becoming limited, thanks to y—”
“It’s not my choice. My mother is making me marry Lucas,” she blurted out, interrupting me.
I almost didn’t understand her. I paused. “What does that have to—”
“I’m gay.”
“You’re…what?”
