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Why do I suddenly have a headache? And why is Rai feeling the need to nag me? Not only with Sumner, but also this crap she keeps shoving in my face. Crap she knows very well where my opinion lands on the matter.

“Losing Siena softened you, and not in the way you need.”

Her words have years of memories flashing back.

“They may love you now. Their kindness is only temporary. Soon, your time here will run out and I will be all you have. We were meant for so much more, Rhenn. It isn’t my fault your father couldn’t see that…

…Until we meet again, dear nephew. Don’t let them soften you.”

I shake away his words, forcing him out of my mind. Rai has clearly taken Siena’s side on the breakup. I’m positive that’s where all of this is coming from. It seems cutting ties with the faerie has wedged a crack in the group. No matter. If she wants to hate me, she can hate me.

They all will soon anyway, right? Because my time is almost up.

“Fuck off, Rai,” I bite, not normally so curt with my friends, but she’s not acting much like one herself. And now she’s got my mood all twisted.

“There it is,” she snides. “Living up to the family name like a charm.” Rai applauds me, then stomps off.

Fuck this. I run my hands down my face, wishing this day would end already. Or that I could restart it and not come here. Stay home. Away from fucking people.

Until I feel her behind me. Some of the frustration eases with her presence, only to be replaced with a knot at the center of my gut. How much did she hear?

“Hey,” Sumner says when I turn to face her. I study her a moment before I answer, trying to assess the damage. She doesn’t look angry. She’s not hitting me. Maybe she didn’t hear what Rai had said about the bonfire. Or any of that other shit, which I’m sure she’d be questioning.

I let out a calming breath and give her a soft smile. “Hey. Ready to check out the fountain?” I’d seen her eyeing it earlier. It’s nothing crazy, just a few small geysers that jet out a trifecta of water for short bursts at a time. Would have been a cool place to eat if I thought about it sooner.

Sumner looks in that direction, rubbing her hand over her arm. “I’m actually getting a little tired. I think I’m going to leave.”

I’d dispute her reasoning since it’s still pretty early, but I’m ready to get out of here too. Rai shot my good mood right the hell down.

Before I take a step, a small voice calls my name, and any earlier frustration I’d felt fizzles out completely, changing to guilt and also worry. Guilt for him, and worry for what Sumner will think.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

SUMNER

Ayoung boy runs up to Rhenn, the same one I’d seen him visit when I followed him the day of The Hunt. His eyes are bright, each and every little tooth on display behind his heartwarming smile. Any tension Rhenn had been holding vanishes, nearly melting when he sees the child.

He seems to hold the only true soft spot inside the spiteful man.

I feel so stupid. So small and naïve. I don’t trust anyone. Why, why, did I let myself trust him? I’ve always done better alone. It’s so much safer there. You can’t get hurt if you don’t let anyone in. But I didn’t let him. He chipped away at the exact right pieces to infiltrate so much of me, and I…I liked it, having someone, feeling just a little less invisible. And what a dumb girl I am, falling right into his trap.

He looks down so fondly at the little boy, the same way he watched me not fifteen minutes ago, only then, it was nothing but a lie.

Rhenn allows the child to express his excitement at seeing him. It’s sweet to see the kid as happy as he is. It’s even sweet to see that Rhenn clearly cares for him. Everyone should have someone they love and who loves them in return, because being alone, it’s terribly empty.

How strange that it’s become my place of comfort.

I turn, not letting myself get distracted. His affection may be real, but it isn’t for me.

“Vix, wait up,” Rhenn calls. Then, to the child, “Hey, buddy, it isn’t a good time. I’ll come over later, okay?”

“Can we go swimming?”

“Sure, whatever you want.”

“And you’ll bring snacks?” the little boy asks with a sense of growing excitement.

My heart thuds behind my ribs, reaching out to my younger self. If I had someone when I was his age, everything would have been so much better…