“You knew something was up, that’s why you didn’t tell her that she was your wife, and you both were already married upon the marriage contract being signed. I mean, come on, why on earth would her own family want to get rid of her so badly?”
I pressed my hand to my lips to keep from crying out. Adelle? It hurt when everything happened with Rune… but somehow it felt worse hearing Adelle say those words.
“I don’t know,” Rune sighed. “I guess they needed the money that bad.”
Themoney? There was money involved?! The knife in my heart twisted deeper, and I swore there were spots in my vision as I swayed in the hallway.
But that still wasn’t the thing that hurt the most. No, what hurt the most was that I thought I finally fit in. I thought, after all this time, Ibelonged. The last person I thought would think anything different of me was Adelle. But all this time… All this time, she knew something was up with the marriage contract—with me—and sheknewI was married to her brother.
I stepped back, heart pounding, and then shoved the door open. Both Rune and Adelle turned toward me, their eyes frozen like deer caught in headlights.
“Don’t stop on my account,” I said, my voice ice-cold. “Please. Continue talking about me like I’m not a real person.”
Rune looked gutted. Adelle’s face fell.
“Maple—” Rune started.
“No. Idon’twant to hear it.” My eyes landed on Adelle, I hoped she felt all the pain and anguish that was swirling around inside of me with that one look. “You let me believe we were friends. You let me walk into your home and your party like I mattered. And this whole time, you knew.”
Adelle’s lips parted, but I was already backing away, rage and heartbreak battling in my chest.
“Loyalty was expected fromme. Sure, I’m a null.” A cruel laugh escaped me. “But I am so much more than that, and I thought you both sawme.This whole time, I thought both of you saw the beautiful, brave, smart woman that I am.” For the first time in my life, I felt the words I spoke. They flowed from me as if I had magic, and maybe I did—at least a little bit. “I came here and didn’t know about the money or the marriage immediately, but I was hellbent on helping the people here. I spent countlessdays and nights in the library trying to help you even though I knew magic wasn’t something I could do.”
I shook my head. “You’re both ready to put me at the stake, but I tried and I didn’t have to.”
With that, I turned on my heel and left. I didn’t need to say anything else, and I didn’t want to hear what they would say totryto fix it. They couldn’t.
But at least I found myself through it all. I knew that if I was no longer welcomed here, I could make it out there. I could find a place where I belonged, where magic didn’t exist, and I didn’t have to pretend to fit in.
My head poundedlike I’d spent all night drinking, but really, I’d spent the rest of the night crying. I’d thrown the beautiful gown into the corner of my room and scrubbed my body as if I could remove everything I felt with water alone. My phone sat on the counter in the bathroom, and every few seconds, my eyes bounced to it.
All I wanted to do was confront my parents, but I couldn’t. I knew I had every right to do so, but… what would it accomplish? I had a feeling it would only embed another knife even deeper into my soul, and it was the last thing I could handle at the moment.
More than anything else, I wanted to leave. I wanted to run away and never look back. Wife? Not me. I would change my name and live out on an exotic island. I closed my eyes and let out a shuddering breath.
No.
It was time they saw just how powerful I could be… even without magic.
I ran a brush through my hair, which did nothing but stand it all around my head before I yanked a beanie over it and called it a day. My face was still a little puffy from all of the tears I’d cried, but it didn’t matter.
The halls were mostly quiet as I made my way toward the library. Most of the compound was preparing for the full moon rituals. They’d be lighting candles, drawing circles, braiding intentions into each other’s hair. Tonight was the full moon and Halloween. Sadness coated my insides as I thought about being back at home, preparing food for my family, and getting ready on the sidelines. The old Maple would have requested to be in the kitchens with Maggie. This Maple no longer cared about where sheshouldbe.
The library doors groaned as I pushed them open. The room was dim, early morning light filtering through the high windows. The smell of old books and dried herbs wrapped around me like a cloak.
I dragged the heavy books I’d stacked over the last week onto one of the long tables. Pages and notes, theories and history—dozens of potential cures for whatever was happening to the wolves. I’d stumbled upon a few curses, but it kept leading me to dead ends.
They thought I was nothing because I couldn’t cast a spell. But I could read. I could connect the dots. I could fight for this coven in ways none of them had considered.
And I would.
Even if Rune never looked at me the same again.
Even if Adelle never apologized.
Even if I walked out of here the second this war was over and never returned.
I would finish what I started.
