Page 35 of Reins

Rosalyn stands, lifting my empty dish from near my elbow.

But she stops. “A shield,” she murmurs.

That snaps me back to focus on her. I turn, confused. “Huh?”

Her mouth twists, dropping at the corner. “Ava said her necklace gave her super powers. She asked me what I’d want if I could have any ability. I’d want a shield so no one could hurt me again.”

Pain in my chest makes me feel as if I’ve been punched. Ava’s chain was still around her neck when she died, but the gems had broken from their fastener.

Who knows where they landed.

“Maybe if Ava had a shield, it wouldn’t have broken her heart one.” Rosalyn mutters from the sink.

I glance at her, turning in my chair. “Why would you say it like that?”

Her cheeks pale. “I didn’t mean anything by it.” Her chin dips as she gestures with her head towards the pictures. “It was a silly thought. That’s all.”

When I shift back to the pile, her words still echo. “Is it because her necklace broke?”

“Um, it’s silly. I just saw the shape and it reminded me.” She rubs her cheek with her shoulder where a stray strand of her golden hair has fallen.

But ice races through my veins. “Where?” I exhale.

I’m a statue while she moves hesitantly closer to my side.

“There.” Her soapy finger extends, pointing to a sideways view of the front seat. “Shit, I’m sorry.” Droplets form a path where her arm was before she jerks it back. “Let me grab a towel.”

“No,” I bark, more harshly than I planned.

But I’m already clutching the photo.

How could I have missed this?

The angle is horrible. Yet now that she’s pointed it out, I can’t unsee it.

In the center of the steering wheel, there’s a perfect indent of the ruby and sapphire necklace I made myself all those years ago.

That tiny shadow shudders through me in a wave as everything I thought was true comes crashing down.

There’s only one way that mark got there.

Ava was driving.

Chapter 21 - Rosalyn

I’m rinsing the last bowl before I notice him with his head down over his arm on the table.

“Cade?” I have no idea what to do.

Then his shoulders quake.

My chest aches seeing him hurting. I’m torn on how to help him.

Ava used to rub my back when I was in pain, especially after Mom would whip me. Would it be weird if I did that to him?

He told me to take ownership of my own happiness. Can that include him?

I’ve never had anyone tell me they were proud of me before. And his smile is addictive with the crooked tilt because of his scars.