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What is going on here?

He’s tall, almost as tall as Rae, but with dark hair and light eyes, sort of olive skin and a lot of scruff on his cheeks. He kind of looks like a healthier, more rugged version of the man I just left but not quite. They don’t look related but something about this man tells me they could be.

“What is going on in here, Rae?” I ask cautiously. “Why are you hiding in the bushes? This is really weird.”

“No,” he snaps at me. “What’s weird is you walking freely back to Xadrian.”

The other guy’s eyes widen. “That’s not right.”

“No, it fucking is not,” Rae snaps.

“Did you see Felix?” the unknown man asks carefully.

“That sick-looking guy? Yeah, I saw him. Why?”

Rae and this other guy share a concerned look.

“Where is he?” the man asks.

I narrow my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. “Why should I tell you? In fact, who even are you? And why are you keeping my brother in the bushes? It’s fucking weird.”

His eyes widen slowly, and he looks at Rae.

“She’s definitely your sister.”

“No shit,” he comments as he walks to me, putting both his hands on my shoulders. “Zia, you’re worrying me.”

“You have no—”

“Let’s start from the beginning, okay?” he says, this time a little nicer and much slower. “How did you get away from Xadrian?”

I blink a few times, just staring at him because I don’t understand why he is asking me this. We’re hiding in the bushes and he’s asking questions like me going home is weird. Like I’m not supposed to be with my husband—which is crazy! Hiding out in the bushes is the strange thing here, not me.

With a huff, I explain. “He’s been so grumpy lately, and he told me to give him space. So I went to the library to—well, I didn’t make it to the library. I was on my way to the library when that sick guy busted into the castle. For some crazy reason, there were no guards there. Seriously none. Zero. That’s actually the weirdest thing that’s happened today. I mean, they’re always there, and suddenly they just—”

“Zia,” Rae barks. “Focus.”

“Oh, right,” I say. “Sorry. So, uhm, yeah. That guy busted in and you know, he looked really familiar, but then I couldn’t figure out how I knew him, just that I did. And then it was like someone sent a signal to my brain, telling me to bring him somewhere. That we had to get to a safe place. So I left the castle and—”

“You just walked out?” Rae asks.

“Rae, I already told you there weren’t any guards at the door. Yes, I just walked out. Do you ever listen to me?”

“Just get on with the story,” the other guy snaps. “Where did you take my friend?”

“To the safe place,” I tell him, losing my patience.“Which is where?” he asks harshly, stepping toward me. Rae shoots him a glare and he stops short, gritting his teeth.

I look at Rae, raising a brow, silently asking if he’s going to let this stranger talk to me that way.

“Silas is just trying to help, Zia. Please, just answer the question.”

“Silas? Your name is Silas. What a weird name. I mean, it sounds like Silo. Are you filled with corn?”

His jaw tightens and he looks at Rae. “Is she serious?”

Rae sighs, shaking his head. “Zia, please. Tell us where Felix is.”

I shrug. “Wherever that lady took him.”