I’m such an idiot. He’s not rejecting me, and I know that, but my chest is tight and hot anyway.
He’s choosing someone else. He’s choosing someone else withmagic.
“I need to go,” I say, and suddenly I sound like I’m a breath away from crying. “If I don’t get back in the bakery, Nora is going to come looking for me.”
“Youareangry.” He’s frowning now, his eyes locked on my face.
I pick up the bucket of eggs and turn for the barn door. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt,” I say.
“Cal!”
I toss him a look over my shoulder. “You’re such a fool, Jax. You’re lucky you weren’t killed.”
“Because of the silver? The Truthbringers? Cal, would you stop?”
I don’t stop.
I’m halfway across the barnyard when he calls out to me. “Cal, I said I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I call back, and then I’m through the door into the bakery.
I stand there, breathing heavily, and I wait for him to come after me. He doesn’t.
I called him a fool, but he’s not.
I am.
“What’s wrong?” Nora whispers. “What happened to Jax?”
“Nothing,” I say, and to my surprise, I have to swipe tears out of my eyes.
I hear her boots rushing across the floor, and I expect her to burst through the door and go after Jax. Instead, I’m startled when her arms wrap around my waist.
“It’s all right,” she says softly. “Whatever it is, it’s all right. I still love you, Cally-cal.”
I hug her back. “For as annoying as you are,” I say, “you have your moments.”
“I’m only hugging you because you fetched the eggs.”
It makes me laugh through my tears, but I quickly sober. It wasn’t Jax’s responsibility to save the bakery. He’s always been my best friend, and nothing more. He can fancy whoever he likes.
My responsibility is to Nora. To the bakery. To myself.
Lord Alek asked if I’d be willing to hang right alongside my best friend, and I said yes. I meant it when I said it.
But honestly, I’d rather not hang at all.
I wonder what Mother would think of Lord Alek and the Truthbringers. I remember how she used to tell me to throw a stone over the mountain to crush the skull of soldiers in Emberfall.
Emberfall, the birthplace of our king. The king, whose magic supposedly summoned that monster that killed her.
The king, whose magic is in those rings on Tycho’s fingers.
I don’t have to wonder. I know what side she’d be on.
Mama always used to say you were wasting your time pining after Jax.
She was right. Maybe she was right about a lot of things.
