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My jaw clenches. “Fine. Do whatever the hell you want. I’m done wasting my time.” I turn on my heel and stomp off.
Things have gotten so damned complicated now. What good is apologizing if it doesn’t even change anything?
As I round the corner, the image of Sienna’s face refuses to leave my mind, the image of her standing there, arms wrapped protectively around herself.
Her words weigh heavy on me, especially the part about trust. I haven't always been reliable, but I did apologize. Admitting fault isn't my strong suit. It took a lot from me to stand there and admit I was wrong. Why isn’t that enough for her?
Tightening my grip on my bike, I push the pedal down harder and pick up speed.
I don’t need her anyway. It doesn’t matter if I was starting to feel things for her. Like I told Dominic—she’s an outsider and she doesn’t belong here. It was the right decision to walk away.
I’m not here to get attached, I’m here to keep the town safe from Serpent scum. Sienna is just a distraction, I don’t need her.
No matter what my heart feels.
21
SIENNA
As I watch Bastian storm off, my heart aches in my chest. Seeing him and Dominic again has brought up so much inside me. I didn’t know that being around them again would leave me with such a lingering ache.
Our brief time together had opened my eyes, letting me catch a glimpse of a different life, one I didn’t know I wanted.
But longing to go back is pointless. I’m not willing to bow and scrape at their feet for whatever small moments of kindness they deign to give me.
I may miss some of the small moments we’ve shared, like being the taste-tester for Dominic when he cooks, or playingThe Simswith Caleb for hours, but it’s for the best to separate from them and get some space.
I pull out my phone and send a text to Rich. I’m heading to campus to do some research in the library. Do you want to get lunch together?
His text comes in as I’m getting back into my car.
I’m about to go into a meeting with the department head. You can use the books in my office if you want, then I’ll meet you there.
I smile, sending off my agreement, and then head out.
As I drive, the weight of my confrontation with Bastian hangs over me. From the start, I knew they were on the opposite side of the law, but I had unfairly assumed they were the ones causing problems. Finding out they’re more like vigilantes has me reeling. How much else have I gotten wrong about them?
I’ve kept a distance between us because I thought it was the right thing to do—that I was protecting myself. Now I’m not sure if I was just trying to keep myself from getting too close to them.
There are so many thoughts going on inside my head that by the time I arrive at Rich’s office, I’m not even paying attention when I slip inside and drop my bag on his couch. I blink, realizing I’m standing in front of his bookcase, staring blankly at the titles.
Running my hands along the worn spines, I try to decide which of the books here might help me understand some of the data I’ve collected. I don’t need to do this, but I want to show that I’m interested in furthering my career in academia.
Nothing jumps out at me, so I shuffle over to the other bookcase, the one behind his desk. I’m perusing the titles when my eye lands on a half-open drawer with something shiny glinting up at me from the shadows.
Curiosity grabs hold of me as I lean down to see what it is, and I realize it’s some kind of jewelry. I pull the drawer open a little more to take a better look, eyes scanning past the trinkets and office supplies. The object is some kind of necklace, delicate and ornate. It catches the light, glinting softly in the dim office. I lift it out of the drawer. It’s a gold necklace with a pendant hanging from a thin chain.
The pendant itself is small and intricately designed with delicate patterns etched into the metal. It’s beautiful, in a nostalgic sort of way. As I run my fingers over the surface, Inotice a name engraved on the back in an elegant script. It’s a simple name, but it sends a shiver down my spine.
Emily.
I recognize the name. How odd. What is this necklace doing in Dr. Thornton’s drawer? Did it belong to her, or was it merely a coincidence?
It’s probably just a coincidence. I mean, why would Dr. Thornton have something like this? It seems out of place amongst the assortment of pens and notepads and scattered paperclips. Is it hers? Was there more to the relationship between them than he led me to believe?
I stare at it for a moment longer, deciding I’m being paranoid. It’s probably nothing. Maybe it belonged to his relative or a former student. I drop the necklace back in the drawer before closing it and turning my attention to the books on his shelf.
At that moment, I hear the sounds of footsteps outside Dr. Thornton’s office, and his voice echoes in the hallway.
