By now, I should be used to people staring at me. That’s what happens when your cousin and closest friend is the most beautiful fae in Rosehillandthe Queen of Willowhaven. Unfortunately, Kerris isn’t with me to draw all the attention as I venture into the city.
Don’t these people have anything better to do?
I’m only at this café to order some tea and dessert, same as everyone else. Nothing to see here.
Three days of holing up in my room was enough to drive me mad. I’m tired of hiding like I did something wrong.
If anything, I did what was right.
My wounds have healed into hardened scars. I am ready to stop hiding and start living.
“I heard she’s seeing an Unseelie fae,” the woman waiting in line behind me whispers to her companion like I’m not standing right here.
It’s no surprise she assumes Maddox and I are together considering how much time we’ve spent in each other’s company of late.
Guilt pinches my chest when I remember the way I spoke to him. He didn’t deserve to be my whipping boy simply because the rug had been swept from under my feet. After I eat, I’m heading straight to the castle to apologize. He deserves a chance to explain himself.
“Well,Iheard Nolan broke it off with her because she was a controlling witch,” the second fae says, and it takes everything in me to keep from turning around and glaring at her until she bursts into flames.
“Who said that?” the first fae asks.
Probably Ivee. Heaven knows that woman would say just about anything to make me look terrible.
“Nolan himself,” the woman responds with a smirk.
Did Nolan really say that about me?
No. I don’t believe it. We might not have parted on the best of terms, but we were together for four years. He wouldn’t spread such terrible lies.
What if hedidsay those things?
I never thought he’d accept a proposal from Ivee, so clearly, I don’t know the man as well as I thought I did.
When I reach the counter and the baker asks for my order, my appetite has vanished.
I knew I’d have to see the blackguard at some point, so why not today? I step out of line and pass the two terrible women with my head held high.
Now seems as good a time as any to confront the man I once loved who is now engaged to my mortal enemy.
When I reach Summerville cottage, I shove the gate aside and saunter through the drooping roses to the front door. I knock good and hard, wishing the wood was Nolan’s maddening head. He finally answers and?—
Heavens. He reeks of booze and looks like death warmed over.
If we were still together, I’d ask if he was feeling ill. Since we aren’t, I’ll let Ivee care for her ailing fiancé. I am here for answers, nothing more.
His eyes bulge, making the dark circles beneath them stand out even more. “Nia...”
I had a list of things to say, very calm, rational things, but when my mouth opens, a shrill, “How dare you?” scrapes out instead.
Wincing, Nolan massages his temples. I hope his head is pounding. “What are you talking?—”
I throw up my hand. I’ve had it up to here with men lying to me. No more. “Did you tell people that you broke it off with me because I was a controlling witch?”
“Listen . . .”
I will certainly notlisten. “No more excuses, no more lies. Answer the bloody question.”
He drags a hand down his face, his palm rasping over at least two days’ worth of facial hair. “Yes, all right? I did. What did you expect me to say?”
