Page 39 of Red Masquerade

Promise me.

And I had, but the thought of returning struck steel into my heart.

What were his intentions? What did he want from me? And whynow? No one left and stayed gone for years without some sort of darkness in their heart, some sort of motive.

The naive girl in me tried to convince me that maybe all was well, all was a misunderstanding. But that blood—

I couldn’t get it out of my head. Every time I shut my eyes to the light, a deep red marred my mind.

The bed dipped as Flora sat next to me, pulling me into her arms. “I just cannot believe this.”

Neither could I.

“I just want the best for you. To figure this out for you.”

“I know.”

She leant her cheek on the top of my head, and we sat there for a moment, letting everything settle.

It felt like when we were little girls, hugging over simpler things—because we were the best of friends, and you hugged the ones you loved. Because I had given her a treat for her birthday. Because we were reading a book together and it felt natural when you were so close.

If I could turn back the clock, I’d go back and warn those little girls not to be fools.

“Do you want me to stay?” she asked, and my heart ached, because how could I not have trusted her? Why did I think she wouldn’t be here for me, when she’s never abandoned me? She was with me when I fell for Adam, with me when Lucas found out, and with me as I grew and changed into the woman I was now, always trying to forget.

I shook my head. “You don’t have to.”Mother would grow suspicious.

She ran her fingers through my hair, brushing it away from my face. It was something I remember wishing my mother had done growing up.

“But I will,” Flora offered. “I cannot just return home knowing you are wasting away over here.”

A smile pulled at her lips, and it was infectious, my cheeks pulling tight for the first time in days. “I’ll be fine,” I insisted. “And I promise not to ignore your calls anymore.”

“Good,” she said, going to stand. She fixed her purse on her shoulder, opened her mouth to speak, then paused. She bit her lip. “Is this about Lucas?”

When was it not?

No, I was upset because Adam lied to me.

I was mad, because how long had I been traipsing around the city, when he was right there under my nose?

Mad because he never sought me out.

Angry because I’d given up long ago, and for nothing.

Maybe he was over it. Maybe the man I used to know was no longer here. Maybe what we had meant nothing now.

So why summon me?

A sigh slipped from my lips. “Maybe.”

It was Lucas’ fault we were here. Maybe Lucas already knew Adam was back and had threatened him again. Banned him from reaching out. It was the only thing I could fathom. And of course, Lucas wouldn’t tell me, but why did it not seem that Adam’s family knew of his return?

Why was he parading around under a different identity?

A shot of pain pulsed through my temples, and I rubbed my eyes again. “I don’t know. Just—Can you come back tomorrow? I don’t want to talk about it, but I need our tea time, even if Mother won’t let me go out. I need everything to go back to normal.”

When I opened my eyes, Flora nodded like she understood. “Same time as always?”