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Why should I feel remorse? What had I done?

“You and Julian, you get along well?” she began cautiously.

“We're best friends.”

That was all I managed to get over my lips.

I would go to great lengths for him.

“And I hope he's doing well. Wherever he is right now.”

My voice trembled.

If this continued, I would cry. And since the last few minutes, I no longer cared how much weakness I showed in front of Tania.

The pretty, slender woman squeezed my hands tightly. “He'll come back.”

How could she know that? She hadn't been there. She didn't know Julian.

I lowered my voice and looked Tania firmly in the eyes. “After what Graham said to him, I'm pretty sure of it.”

The remorse disappeared from my chest, replaced by a kind of shock.

I hadn't planned to torture her like this and immediately bit my tongue.

Tania's encouraging smile disappeared instantly, and her expression froze.

“What did Graham say to him?”

The truth.

“Bayla,” I flinched, and Tania startled as well when Alarik suddenly appeared on the lawn behind us, dressed in navy chinos and dark brown leather shoes, the same dark brown as the sweater over his white shirt. “I don't want to interrupt your conversation, but you have training now.”

Spring Forest Noise

Yttermarken

I turned away from Tania, who stared first at Alarik in perplexity and then at me in even greater confusion. The color had drained completely from her pretty face.

I didn't hesitate any longer – even though I felt confusion as well – and followed Alarik across the meadow.

He had saved me from making a mistake. Neither Julian nor Graham would have forgiven me that.

God, how miserable had I been today? How could Julian's disappearance have stirred me up so much?

I tried to focus on the here and now, on Alarik, and caught up with him without turning back to Tania.

I had to think of something, possibly lie to her.

“What were you two talking about?”

Surprised, I glanced sideways at Alarik, who was calmly watching me as we continued walking.

“She asked me questions...”

“What kind of questions?”

“About my mother...”