Page 71 of Never Ever After

He should have pushed me in.

When Jin reaches for the empty bowls, I snatch them first, stalking away before he can protest. Once they begin to feel drowsy, it’s safer I’m away, easier to not see this. Out of sight, I drop the bowls to the ground—and then, I wait.

It is quiet when I make my way back to the camp, the heavy type that stirs restlessness rather than calm. They are all asleep, Lady Ruilin’s head resting on the witch’s shoulder. Jin is on the far side, slumped against a tree. I walk up to him, then brush aside the hair that falls over his forehead. Suppressing my guilt, I turn away, moving purposefully toward the magic-wielder.

Asleep, she looks like a young woman, not the witch she is. I keep my breathing light, steadying my hands as I draw my dagger. One quick flick, and the cords of her pouch are cut, my other hand catching it before it falls to the ground. I squeeze the cloth, feeling the gold chain, then open it to catch a glimpse of the shining stone within.

Darting to my feet, I rush toward the horses. I need to be far away when they awaken—but then, someone catches me around my waist in a strong grip, lifting me effortlessly as I struggle and kick. We’re pressed together, then I’m slung around and set roughly on the ground, a hand seizing my wrist in a pitiless grip.

“I didn’t want to believe her.” Jin’s tone is taut with fury. “But it’s true. You are working for Prince Zixin.”

I shake my head, my heart thudding with fear—wrenched by something entirely different. He’s never looked at me this way before: such coldness in his gaze, such anger.

“It’s not what you think.” My voice is thin, wavering.

“Why don’t you explain?” His eyes are dangerously bright. “I’d understand if you were running away, but you stole the starfire.” He leans toward me, and I hate that even now, the scent of him tempts me to inhale deeper. But then he plucks the witch’s pouch from my grasp.

“I’m not a spy.”

“Yet you’re trading the starfire for your ring, aren’t you?” He doesn’t ask it like a question. “Did you play us both, just to get your way? What else did the prince offer you? To share his crown?”

“No! I—”

“Don’t listen to her lies, Lord Jin-Yong,” the witch’s voice rings out as she strides forward. “You didn’t believe me when I told you she would betray us—only when I woke you from her drug and showed you the proof.” She jerks her head at me. “Let me punish her as she deserves.”

Despair clutches me, loosening my tongue. “I know where the creature is,” I say quickly. “Give me the starfire, let me go, and I’ll tell you.” This is the last thing I have left to trade.

Jin’s jaw clenches. “If this is true, you kept this from me; you lied.”

“You didn’t get my ring back,” I retort. “What if you abandoned me once I gave you everything you sought? You forced me to follow you to the Land Beyond. I had to help myself because you didn’t keep your word.” I hold tight to my anger because when I’m mad at him, I’m not mad at myself.

“I would have kept my promise to you, but it was too dangerous to bring the starfire to the Palace of Nine Hills. Why couldn’t you wait a little longer?” He speaks gravely, his gaze intent. “I know your life has been difficult, nor am I one to trust easily. But I thought what we had was different. Don’t only expect the worst of everyone—when you bet against yourself, you’ll lose even if you’re right.”

At the look on his face, a different kind of pain stabs my heart. I hate his disappointment more than his rage. But I harden myself to ask, “Will you agree to my terms?”

He shakes his head. “I won’t make deals with those I don’t trust. And I know you’ll say anything to get your way.”

“Lord Jin-Yong, I’ll extract whatever secrets she’s keeping,” the witch offers, fingering her blade. “If you’re squeamish about blood, there are herbs—”

“No,” he bites out, part of me crumpling with relief. “She will come with us, bound if need be. But you are not to harm her in any way; she is my responsibility.” He bends his head to mine, whispering in my ear. “And you will tell me everything I want to know.”

A shudder courses through me, but I lift my chin defiantly. “I’ll never tell you; I’ll bury the secret if you hold me against my will.”

“She’s all yours, Lord Jin-Yong,” the witch says with a derisive laugh. “You will have to answer to the Elders if anything goes wrong. Just give me the starfire.”

The witch snatches the pouch from Jin. As he rounds on her, distracted—I kick at him to break free. And then, I run.

My feet fly over the pitted ground. It’s been a while since I’ve raced like this, softened from life in the palace, the horses of Thorn Valley. The wind rushes in my face, my lungs burning. If I stop, I’m dead.

As a slithering sound erupts behind me, I force my legs to quicken. A vine hurtles forward, wrapping around my ankle and yanking hard. I fall, my face slamming against the earth. I scramble up, spitting out the dirt, drawing my dagger to cut the vine—but another lashes out to seize my wrist. Footsteps crunch behind me, my blood running cold, my throat bone-dry.

The witch’s eyes are as bright as a viper’s as she stalks toward me slowly, like she’s savoring my terror. “I was right not to trust you. Those from the Iron Mountains are liars, thieves, and murderers.”

As her hand curls into a fist, the vines around me tighten, squeezing my flesh until it bulges. I try to speak but another vine slithers around my throat, my free hand clawing at it.

“Let her go.”

Jin reaches us, moving between the witch and me. My heart twinges as shame burns—that even now, he’s defending me.