That was a horrible judgment call. I was reminded of the videos I’d watch online where people would sneak up yards away from wildlife, thinking they were in the safe zone. Wrong. I retreated against the wall. “What is with you, Jess?”
For the first time since we met years ago, her towering height intimidated me. Like a predator, she leaned into my space, caging me and giving me nowhere to run. My knees weakened, and I slid down the wall. Flashbacks of her shoving me under the water and holding me until I stopped thrashing played out in my mind.
“You,” she spat. “You are what’s with me. Again.” The silence following was loud enough to hear the remainder of my hopes shattering. I was right. It was my fault. “You did not listen. You treated this as a childish game.”
Wait. What? This had nothing to do with their argument. I shook my head, negating everything she was saying.
“You. Lost. Precisely as I said you would.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
“And now I have lost twice. Because of you.”
My gaze snapped to hers as the tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Does your puny human brain comprehend the detriment of your actions?”
I gulped down the knot in my throat. “I don’t want anything in return.”
“There is always an ulterior motive.”
I shook my head. “I just wanted to do the right thing. Stop him from hurting you.”
“Who decides what is right and wrong? Hmm, Calista?” Jessandra sighed and looked away. “This is Faery. We do not live by the same code.”
“I thought you were my friend,” I whispered.
Her face hardened again. “We are not friends.”
I winced from the blow of her words. She was the only familiar face here, the only person I knew by name. I thought we had connected on some level when I was younger and would again now that I was back.
“Expectations come with friendship. Never expect anything from me. I have but one duty and that is to fulfill my debt to him. Same as you. Now I will owe you another boon—”
“No—” I started and the glare she shot me made my mouth snap shut.
“Now I will oweyouanother boon and will probably have to payhimfor that one, too.”
I stayed silent for fear of angering her again.
“We are late. Clean your face.”
She stormed down the stairs muttering. The only thing I made out as I scrubbed my face with the poofy sleeve was, “I will not be enslaved to a human in this Roth-forsaken prison.”
