Page 52 of Midnight Star

I want to ask Aethelthryth. I’m seconds away from it.

But something stops me. Because while she’s been kind to me since I arrived, the fae are always playing games.

And there’s no reason to believe she’s any different from the rest of them.

During lunch, I keep glancing at the central fountain—the one where Jake’s body had been discovered before I woke up.

It looks so deceptively normal now. There aren’t even any bloodstains around it, since all of Jake’s blood had been drained into the fountain’s basin.

The others in the courtyard are quiet, refusing to look at me.

Including Victoria.

Admittedly, Victoria’s never excited to talk to me. But given that it’s just the two of us at this table—since Sophia’s at Aerix’s quarters for lunch—she usually makes a bit of an effort.

“You blame me for what happened to Jake,” I say after I can’t take a second more of the awkwardness, setting my fork down with more force than necessary.

Her eyes snap to mine, sharp as broken glass. “Aerix killed Jake because Jake dared to touch what belongs to him,” she says, venom lacing her tone.

My breath catches in my chest. Because she’s right. If I’d done something differently, then maybe…

Stop the cycle of self-blame,I remind myself what Aethelthryth told me.It’s not going to get me anywhere.

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” I say, giving no explanation beyond that.

“Are you so sure of that?” she asks.

“Does Aerix really seem like the type who would submit to anything I’d asked?” I scoff.

She glares at me again, which I take as admittance that I’m right.

“I’ve been here for years,” she says instead. “And no matter how many of Aerix’s girls filter in and out, he’s never acted like this before.”

“Like what?”

“Protective. Possessive. Obsessed.”

Her eyes grow more haunted with each word spoken.

“He’s not obsessed with me,” I argue, even though the events of this morning suggest otherwise. “He’s just...”

“Just what?” she challenges. “So captivated that he’llkill anyone who threatens his claim on you? So enthralled that he’s changing his routines to spend more time with you?”

I think of this morning, when I asked Aerix to choose me over Victoria for breakfast, and I know she’s right. He’s not the type to bend to what we ask, but yet, he has for me, on multiple occasions.

I’m getting a pretty good idea by now about why that might be.

“Have you ever heard of someone named Kallista?” I ask, and given the way she tilts her head, she’s genuinely surprised by the sudden change of subject.

“No,” she says, her brow furrowing. “Why?”

I hold her gaze, realizing with each passing second that she’s truly clueless.

Interesting. Very, very interesting.

“No reason.” I shrug, although from the way she presses her lips together, I can tell she doesn’t believe me.

But apparently done conversing with me, Victoria turns her attention to the table next to us, where Nathanial—Princess Mirena’s sole human—sits by himself, as always.

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