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“I’m glad you’re here with me.”

Why the fuck does that statement send a shot of fire up my spine?

“And not him?”

Now I’m truly out of my fucking mind. Why the fuck do I care about her relationship with my brother? I’m not jealous. I can’t be. And yet there is an itch deep down in my brain that feels a lot like jealousy.

She frowns and looks away. “It’s complicated.”

“You know, sometimes I miss him.”

Her gaze cuts back to me. “Really?” There is relief in that one word.

“He was my little brother. And we were the closest in age.”

“Was he always like this? Capable of such deep betrayal, it makes you want to scream?”

“No.” I laugh. “That came later. When the war between the royals and the witches broke out, something in him had changed. He was summoned home from his studies at the royal palace and he became our mother’s pet. They were always in dark corners whispering.”

“Are they still that close?”

I consider the question. “I’m not sure. He has changed more still in the years that have followed. But I haven’t been around them in a very long time.”

“Growing up, the people around me, the things I read and saw, it seemed like people were incapable of change. But you’re saying maybe he can—”

“I know where you’re going with that, and that’s not what I’m saying.”

She frowns, little worry lines forming between her dark brows. “I hate that I can’t stop thinking about him.”

“He has that effect on people.”

“I have someone, back in Kansas. He is kind and gentle and loyal.”

“But?”

“But…” Her gaze goes past me, soft and unfocused. “He’s never haunted my every waking thought.”

She sniffs and rubs at her nose. “Anyway. The longer I’m here, the more I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind.”

“Oz will also have that effect on people.”

She laughs and a lock of her hair gets stuck to the corner of her mouth. Without thinking, I reach over and pull it away.

The movement causes both her and me to come to a standstill.

“Tin,” she starts, “I—”

Several shadows appear on the path in front of us.

Instinct overrides my sense and I shove her behind me. She lets out a yelp.

Out here, on the outskirts of Eisvale, there is barely any light, but I would know the silhouette of palace soldiers anywhere.

“Get back inside,” I tell her, and she sprints back to the cabin.

I have my axe in hand, walking back until I reach the cabin steps.

Dorothy has the door hanging open and I shove inside, locking the door behind us.