Page 69 of Society of Wishes

It took a long moment, a multitude of emotions warring in Snow’s distant stare. But then, eventually, he opened his mouth tospeak.

“I have much to make up for,” he said, voice low and rough, as if it hurt for the words to leave histhroat.

“What’re you talkingabout?”

“Go to the briefing room,Jo.”

It took everything she had not to bristle, not to go on the defensive. “You can’t just say something like that andnot—”

“Jo, please.” Snow frowned, not quite looking at her. Something in his expression, in the tight, almost painful whisper of his voice, gave Jo pause. She scanned his face, tried to catch his gaze, but he stared adamantly to her side. “I’ll be there soon,” he added. And, as if realizing he was being inconsiderate (again), he added a soft, “I promise. Please, just for now, trustme?”

And despite herself, despite how many questions she still had, the genuineness in his tone broke her down, won her over. She found herself nodding. It was almost worth it for the momentary relief she watched soften the tension in his brow. Taking a step back, Snow offered her a small, softsmile.

“Thank you,” he whispered, the words all but inaudible as he closed the door betweenthem.

Time passed sluggishly for a moment, Jo’s mind whirring with new questions, old questions still unanswered, images of Snow’s features—softened by relief, eyes shining as they scanned her face. But unfortunately, she couldn’t dwell, not when the tension of a new wish permeated the air, that buzz of magic waiting to be distributed like an electric storm searching for a spot to strike the earth. So, trying not to feel too disappointed, too frazzled by Snow’s enigmatic presence, Jo turned away from his door and started heading back to the briefingroom.

But not before glancing, almost on reflex, at the unmarked, black door to herright.

Yes, there were still many wishes ahead of her, and many more questions about the Society that grantedthem.