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If it were anyone else questioning my judgment, I would have snapped. But Serefin’s concerns were genuine. “Me too,” was all I said. “Either way, they’re safer here than they were in that poor excuse of a house.”

“Agreed,” he nodded. “That much is certain. They weren’t happy about leaving, though. Be ready for a fight.”

I laughed. “They’re Jade’s relatives. I expect nothing less. Anything noteworthy?”

Serefin shrugged. “The father is just as drunk as I remembered.”

CHAPTER4

Jade

Ihadn’t worn a dress since the fae festival back in Trithen. The black silk gown was loose enough to be comfortable, yet tight enough to expose most features. The time I had spent training was beginning to give shape and muscle to my lean body.

I looked stronger now.

Iwasstronger.

My black hair matched the dress, both coming together to create a dark shield between me and the rest of the world.

If only the shield were real.

Malachi requested dinner. I would allow at least that. Ignoring him had been the easy way out over the last few days.

But we were ignoring the inevitable. We were denying the truth.

I lifted my chin, looking at myself in the golden mirror ahead of me. The reflection before me was a far cry from the girl who had stepped foot in Rewyth the first time around. That girl had been naive and weak, even though she wanted everyone around her to believe she was strong.

I clenched my jaw and tilted my head to the side, taking in every healing bruise that covered my skin.

It was nothing compared to the wounds that ran deep. The secrets. The betrayals.

A whisper of anger tickled my stomach. I had been living off that deeply hidden emotion. Fury. Pain. Resentment.

It was the only thing I had. If I didn’t feel those things, I might not have felt anything at all.

I lifted the hem of my gown and opened my bedroom door, all while ignoring the increasing pounding in my chest.

“Ready to be escorted to dinner, Lady Weyland?” Serefin spoke as soon as he saw me.

My chest tightened at the name, but I pulled my shoulders back and rolled my eyes. “How long have you been waiting out here, Serefin?” I asked.

He smiled, a familiar kindness returning to his dark eyes. I nearly smiled, too. “Just a few minutes. Malachi is waiting for you.”

I turned in the castle’s hallway and began walking in the direction of Malachi’s dining room. Serefin followed closely behind me. “I don’t need a bodyguard, you know.”

“I know,” he replied. “But I couldn’t pass up the chance to finally see you. It’s been a while.”

“It has,” I answered. I was glad I couldn’t see Serefin’s face. I knew the coldness in my words would have stung him, even if he tried to hide it.

“Look, Jade,” he started, grabbing my arm from behind me and forcing me to stop walking. I glanced down at his hand on me. This was out of character for him. “I’m on your side, okay? We all are. I know you think we are the enemy right now, but we aren’t.”

I searched his face for malice but found nothing other than genuine care. Could I really trust him, though? The fae were the reason I was in this situation to begin with. If I had learned anything, it was that the fae werenotto be trusted.

But Isaiah wasn’t fae. He was human.Hebetrayed me.

Esther wasn’t fae. She was a witch.Shebetrayed me.

The list of people I trusted grew smaller and smaller.