“If you didn’t do it, why won’t you look at me?”
She sniffed again, and after a moment, she looked up and met my gaze with a lack of conviction and confidence.
“You lied to me.” I could see it in her face, see the truth behind the lie.
“I didn’t do it.”
“The act is already unforgivable, but the lie is just unacceptable. Your actions can be a mistake, but a lie will destroy your reputation. There’s no coming back from that. So look me in the eye?—”
“Fine.” She burst into tears, shameful ones. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just… I snapped.”
“And the bow?”
She wouldn’t look at me again.
I’d falsely accused Krull in front of everyone, and if I didn’t hate him so much, I’d feel bad about it. But as a leader to the tribe, I had to rectify that wrongdoing with a conversation. But my other threat was still valid.
“She just came in here and took you away, and everyone likes her and?—”
“How does destroying her contributions change anything?” I did my best not to yell, knowing it wouldn’t help the situation. I was so mad that I was beyond yelling, which was a dangerous level.
“Like I said, I just snapped.”
I’d told Krull I would banish him to the darkness as punishment for this treason, but it felt wrong to inflict that punishment on a woman who wouldn’t survive a day. Who’d given in to her griefand jealousy and did something irrational. “I have to punish you, Allegra.”
She sniffed. “I know…”
I was tired of this conversation. I didn’t want to look at her for another second. “I’ll make that decision at another time.”
I arrived at Krull’s cabin and sighed before I knocked.
My integrity led me here. Obligation made me clear his name when I didn’t want to look at his face. But it was the right thing to do, and I always tried to do the right thing.
He was pissed off when he opened the door, like he knew it was me before seeing me. “Here tobanishme?” he asked sarcastically.
“No.”
“So you figured out who actually did it?”
“I did.”
“You should have asked Allegra first.”
I cocked my eyebrow. “You knew it was her?”
“I’m not a snitch.”
“How did you know?”
“I saw her.”
“And you did nothing to stop her?”
“Nope,” he said. “I would never cross a woman in a fit of female rage.” His hand remained on the door. “Going to banish me for that instead?”
This motherfucker was insufferable. “I came here to retract my accusation—and apologize.”
“Apologize? I’ve heard no apology.”
