The sound of the rushing spring filled my ears, loud and endless, like it wanted to wash everything away — the lies, the pain, the stupid hope I'd carried all this way.
Nathan's words hung in the cold air, sharp and heavy as a stone.
"…and Lady Courtney is coming with us."
My fingers loosened around the jagged rock I held, and it slipped from my grasp, dropping into the water with a soft splash that felt far too loud. For a long moment I didn't move. I didn't cry. I just felt something inside me go completely still — like a flame that had been flickering for days finally blowing out, leaving nothing but cold ash behind.
"Of course," I said, and my voice came out flat, empty, like it belonged to someone else. "Why wouldn't she? He got what he wanted here. Why not bring the whole prize home?"
