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Rollo took a step forward. “I didn’t want to panic you. I needed time to?—”

“You neededtime?” Her voice cracked. “Rollo, Wren isdying.The land issick.The wards arefailing.You didn’t think I needed to know? You asked me for help even!”

“I was protecting you,” he said, even though the words felt hollow now.

Delilah’s lips parted, and for a moment, it looked like she might scream. But she didn’t.

She justbreathed—shaky, slow—and that somehow felt worse.

She stepped closer, her voice low, sharp. “This isn’t just about some rogue friend with a vendetta. This is about the land. AboutWren.Whatever’s poisoning the forest is poisoning her too.”

“I didn’t want to believe it was him,” he said, voice thick. “I hoped—gods, Ihopedit was a mistake. That I’d misread the signs. I didn’t want to bring this to you until I was sure.”

“But youweresure,” she said. “You knew the moment you found that pup. You saw him. You talked to him,” she whispered, voice cracking. “And you didn’t tell me.”

“He threatened you,” Rollo said suddenly, the words ripped out like a wound. “That’s what he did when I found him. Said I couldn’t protect what was already broken. Said your name like it was a warning.”

Delilah’s breath caught, but she didn’t cry.

“You should’ve told me.”

“I deliberately lied when I asked.”

“I didn’t lie,” he said quietly. “I just didn’t tell you everything.”

Her laugh was bitter. “That’s called a lie by omission, Rollo.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“No,” she said, stepping in now, fury tremoring through her like lightning held in flesh. “You were trying to control it. Justlike you’ve always done. The land issick, Rollo. It’sweak. Wren isweak.If I’d known?—”

“If you’d known, what?” he snapped, louder than he meant. “You would’ve thrown yourself into the trees and tried to pull the rot out with your bare hands? That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you!”

She blinked. Tears welled—angry ones. Betrayed.

“You don’t trust me,” she whispered. “You still think I’m that girl from before. That I can’t handle truth.”

He took a step toward her, reaching. “That’s not it.”

She stepped back.

“You think keeping me in the dark is some kind of noble act,” she said, voice shaking now. “But it’s not. It’s cowardice. It’s selfish.”

“I didn’t want to lose you,” he said, almost pleading. “I couldn’t risk it.”

“You alreadyhave,” she snapped.

The words hit like claws.

She swallowed hard, blinking back tears she clearly didn’t want to show.

“I came back here for Wren. For the town. Foryou.I stayed when I wanted to run. I gave you everything I could. And I thought—maybe—we were doing this together.”

“Wewere.Weare.”

“No,” she said, voice quiet now, hollow. “We’re not. Because you made a choice for both of us. And it put me—and Wren—at risk.”

Silence fell. Dense and unrelenting.