Page 373 of Halfblood Deceived

Diana wanted to scream. She wanted to run headlong into the bulletproof glass. “And I’m sorry for… you know.”

Kamilla nodded and stood, going back to her chair. “Let us pretend this never happened.”

“Yes,” Diana forced out. “It’s for the best.”

Kamilla gathered her papers, not looking at Diana. “It is rude to leave a party in your honor for no good reason. You should go enjoy yourself.”

I won’t be able to enjoy anything ever again; Diana thought. It sounded dramatic, but felt like the absolute truth. “Right. Yeah.” She walked to the door and opened it, but turned back to look at Kamilla. “We are still… We are still friends, right?” Oh, goddess. She’d done it. She’d asked the shit question cowards asked in movies and books.

Kamilla’s topaz eyes met hers. “Of course we are. We’ll always be.” Heartbreaking. Her honesty and the sadness in those eyes were heartbreaking.

Diana nodded and then left as fast as she could, like the coward she was.

Aella often wished for a time machine. Diana understood better than ever why at that moment.

She went back to the party.

She saw herself talking and laughing as if she were outside her body.

As if her heart and soul were not there, but far away. With Kamilla.

With the female that she could never have.

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