Adalyn surreptitiously glanced at the people around her, wondering if one of them had shoved her, but saw nothing on their faces except concern.She let herself be led away, keeping to herself that someone had definitely pushed her.
When she and Gabi finally entered her room, she went into the bathroom and sat on the closed toilet.
“Let me take a look at your hands,” Gabi said.
Adalyn held them out.“I didn’t fall.”
Gabi’s brow furrowed.“What?”
“I didn’t fall.I was pushed.”
Gabi’s eyes widened as she searched Adalyn’s face.“Someone pushed you.Tried to hurt you?”
“Tried to kill me,” she whispered, eyes flooding with tears.“If I had gone over the side, I don’t think I would’ve survived that.”
“Who?”
“There’s only one person who’s already threatened me.”
The unsaid name lingered between them.
“I didn’t see her,” Gabi said.“When I heard you, I turned but you had already fallen to the ground.”
“There’s no proof,” Adalyn muttered, bitterness seeping into her words.
“You have to tell Lord Huntley.”
“Do you think he’ll believe me?”
“Yes,” Gabi answered.“He loves you.”
“But if I accuse Elgene, he’ll go after her,” Adalyn said, thinking things through.“He’ll get in trouble.I don’t know much about vampire protocols, but if he attacks the thrall of another man, he’d be punished.That can’t happen.”
“But why would she risk getting caught?”
“Her desire to punish him, or to get back at me, outweighs her common sense.”
“That woman is pure selfish evilness.”
“Gabi, you can’t tell him.”
“But—”
“Please.This is between us.As far as anyone knows, I tripped.”
It took a moment for Gabi to agree, and when she did, Adalyn relaxed.She would not be the fuse that lit Gareth’s anger.
****
“Are you sure you’reokay?”Gabi asked as she brushed Adalyn’s hair.
Adalyn looked at her in the mirror.“I’m okay.”
“Really?”
“Iwillbe okay.”She took a deep breath.“I wish the ceremony wasn’t tonight.”
Gabi stopped brushing.“Do you want to call it off?”
