Her face shut down. She pointed at the door. “I want you to leave.”
“No. Not until you tell me where I can find Jethro.”And explain what happened while I was gone.
She crossed her arms, pouting like a little child surrounded by yellow-lemon pillows. “You come into my room and demand to know where my brother sleeps. God, you’ve got some nerve.” She cocked her head, her bob slicing her jawline. “What? So you can kill him or fuck him?”
I coughed with surprise. “You sound just like him. He said the exact same thing when he dragged me up here for the Tally Mark.”
Jasmine sucked in a breath. “Well...which one is it?”
I sat straighter. Now might be my only chance to get Jasmine on my side.In order to find the truth, I had to give it. No matter how revealing it would be. “I’m in love with your brother. I hate him most days, but that doesn’t stop my idiotic heart from loving him. I love the goodness buried inside. I love the way he wants to be better but can’t. I love the way he touches me. And I’m not ashamed to admit I love sleeping with him.”
My cheeks flared, but I continued boldly, “He’s mine as much as yours. I’m not your enemy, Jasmine. I want to be your friend.”
Silence fell, thick and cloying.
She never stopped glaring.
Fear darted down my arms. “What happened the day the police came? Before that, you were...nice to me. You were welcoming. But now...you hate me.” Hanging my head, I said, “I didn’t leave of my own free will. You know that.”
Animosity swirled thicker, webbing us together.
Finally, she sighed. “I know you didn’t go freely.”
“Then why punish me? My brother meddled in things he doesn’t understand. I know it cost Jethro hugely, but it wasn’t my fault.”
She stared at the ceiling, battling a sudden glisten in her eyes. “But it was. It was both our faults. I pushed him to let you inside him, and you won by making him care. We both made him so vulnerable. Cut...” She looked away, biting her lip.
I inched closer, patting her knee. I didn’t know if she could feel it, but I squeezed anyway. “What did he do to him?”
Jasmine plucked the bedspread. “I don’t know. Kite won’t tell me. I can’t get through to him. Not like I used to.” Her gaze latched onto mine. “He won’t talk to me. He won’t even come see me. He’s cut Kestrel out, too. He doesn’t ride anymore. It’s like everything that made him my broken brother has been lost.”
My soul cracked at the thought. “It can’t be lost. There must be a way to change whatever Cut did.”
Jasmine shook her head. “I’ve never seen him this cold, this remote. He’s exactly like our father, and it terrifies me to think I’ve lost him.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I suppose in a way, I should be grateful. At least he’s still breathing.”
My world stopped. “What do you mean?”
Jasmine scowled. “Oh, don’t look so surprised. You must’ve guessed what would happen when you walked out of Hawksridge and never looked back.”
“Hetoldme not to look back,” I snapped. “He forced me to obey by using my love against me.”
Her face turned frigid with anger. “Yes, but you could’ve found a way to come back sooner. You must’ve believed Bonnie when she said you’d earned your freedom at the cost of another.”
I didn’t want to hear anymore.
Jasmine scoffed. “My father is doing everything in his power to destroy your line because of some stupid ancient vendetta that should’ve been dismissed centuries ago. If he can do that to innocent people, what does that mean for the ones being groomed to take over his throne?” She suddenly leaned forward, snatching my hand off her knee.
Her French-manicured nails dug into my skin. “Whatever Jethro has done or whatever Cut threatened him with is the last resort. I thought I would neversee my brother again. I thought the moment you walked out of Hawksridge Jethro would disappear, too. But he didn’t. He’s still alive—but God only knows what stipulations Cut placed on him.”
She jerked me closer. “Just stay away from him. Don’t try to find him. Don’t try to love him. Don’t try to do anything to upset whatever balance he’s been able to find. I miss him, but I’d rather have him unattainable and alive than caring and dead.”
She threw my hand away. “Now leave, before I call security.”
I stood, moving quickly to her door. I needed to go before I burst into tears at the sheer hatred she had for me. Every word was delivered with fury and dislike. I was no longer a friend but foe.
How could she switch so easily?
How could she give up on Jethro when I knew he was so close to snapping back?
