She starts to cry.
Tears slide down her cheeks. “This isn’t about changing matches.” Her voice breaks, and my heart along with it. “I trusted you. I—You. You told them.You—”
No. Not worth it.
No plan is worth this.
I close my eyes, understanding how she must feel. Her biggest secret ... shared as part of my strategy. “I know. I’m sorry. Truly. Cleo had become suspicious. She knew we had visited Moon Isle the day before, somehow. The only way to convince her to help me was to discard you. Publicly. Your reaction and actions in the last few weeks had to be genuine.”
She listens. Then she shakes her head. “I don’t believe you.”
I’ve never wanted to be believed more in my long life. “I have never lied to you, Isla,” I say. “Even though you have lied to me repeatedly.” I take another step toward her, in my bed. “You told me your secret. Now let me tell you my flair.” I watch her green eyes widen. I shouldn’t tell her. This is my last remaining secret. But I do anyway. “No one can lie to me. Because I know when people are lying.”
Shock. Silence.
Yes. Yes, she knows how much she’s lied to me. I can see it on her face.
Little liar.
“All you did was lie to me, and I still told you about the heart. I told you everything, except for this.”
“Your offer holds, then,” she finally says. The hurt isn’t gone, but it seems cares about her people more than she hates me.
You hate me, remember?
I hate you.
Liar.
I shake away the remnants of that dream and nod. “When we find the heart, you will wield it. You will receive the power promised.”
She agrees to work with me again, but I can feel the fracture between us. Breaking something that was never truly whole in the first place.
MOST IMPORTANT GARDEN
The last thing I want is to go to Carmel.
The Centennial tradition is a celebration for the people. To keep them in high spirits. This year, after the deaths at the ball ... it’s a wonder anyone shows.
It lasts a full twenty-four hours, though I can’t participate until the sun sets.
I’ve checked on the Wildling far more times than I should have, to make sure she’s okay, given that Cleo needs to show up to Carmel to qualify for the prize.
Cleo. I’ve always disliked her ... but now, I hate her. She left Isla to die.
What if she’s going to try to finish the job at the festivities?
I keep guards on the Wildling. According to them, she’s still in her room.
The Starling has visited her. A glimmer of happiness lights in my chest that she’s found someone to spend time with. I would be nothing without my friends, I know. I’m glad—I’m glad she’s found that.
The sun sets, and I find myself still in the castle, pacing the halls. Willing this celebration to end, so I can go check the last two places on Moon Isle with Isla.
I pace, and pace, in front of the windows—
That’s when I see her.
She’s in my mother’s garden. She’s wearing a dress covered in pink and red petals, like the most glorious flower, in the most important garden.
