Page 143 of The Cost of Blood and Bonds

“That’s not it—I’m your friend, Hayes⁠—”

“Friends don’t lie to my face and then try to distract me with—with flirting⁠—”

I watch her realize her words aren’t going to save her. Her eyes flick past me, and nearly in the same breath, she lunges for the gap between me and the wall.

My magic answers reflexively before I do. Vines tear loose from me and wrap around her wrists. She gasps and struggles, but they hold. I stare at my own hands as if they belong to someone else.

“Hayes!” Her voice is frantic now. “You don’t understand—Hayes, please—I was so close. I heard her⁠—”

“You’re right.” I’m barely breathing. “I don’t understand anything anymore.”

I don’t look at her. Not through the corridors, not at the dungeon door, not when the lock clicks shut. She doesn’t fight. When I finally meet her eyes, she’s as still as a caged bird on the other side of the bars. I wish she would scream, wish she would rage, because the quiet is worse. The quiet sounds like every night walk, every moment I thought was real. I walk away before my legs give out.

The corridor blurs around me. My vision narrows, and my hands find the stone. I close my eyes, but all I can see is her face behind the bars. My stomach lurches, and for a moment, I think I’m going to be sick right here in the hallway. It keeps replaying, and I can’t make it stop.

What did I just do? What do I do now?

I can’t go to Father. I already know what he’ll do.

Rye. The thought cuts through the panic like a blade.

I need to find Rye.

Chapter 49

Ryewood

Iwatch her go, and everything in my chest compresses into a suffocating knot. I drag a hand through my hair and turn toward the castle, holding myself together by force.

The ballroom is just as bright and loud as when I left it, with nobles laughing, champagne flowing, and music swelling. Everyone is oblivious to the fact that my entire world just shifted on its axis.

I scan the crowd for Hayes. He was barely holding it together when I left him. I need to check on him. Make sure he hasn’t drowned himself in champagne or started a fight with a Davrik. But I don’t see him anywhere.

I spot Finn and Rosie instead, still in their corner near the bar. Rosie’s cheeks are flushed, with her laugh a little too loud. Finn’s grinning at her, saying something that makes her swat at his arm.

I make my way toward them, weaving through clusters of nobles who try to catch my eye, but I can’t do pleasantries right now. I can’t pretend everything is fine when Ella is out there, doing something dangerous, and I’m stuck here smiling at people I couldn’t care less about.

“There he is.” Finn spots me first. “Thought you’d run off for good.”

“Just needed some air.” The lie comes easily.

Rosie tilts her head, studying my face. “You okay?”

“Fine.” I force a smile. “Where’s Hayes?”

Finn shrugs. “Wandered off a while ago. Thought he went to find you, actually.”

My stomach drops. Hayes, alone, in the state he’s in, is not good.

The ballroom doors burst open. Hayes walks through looking wrecked. His hair is disheveled like he’s been dragging his hands through it, his face is pale, and his eyes are wild, darting around the room until they land on me.

I’m moving before I can think, cutting through the crowd toward him. Finn and Rosie are close behind me.

Hayes meets me halfway, grabbing my arm hard enough to bruise.

“She betrayed us.” His voice is ragged and far too loud, causing heads to turn toward us. “She betrayed us both, Rye.”

“Hayes.” I grip his shoulders, trying to steady him. “Slow down. What are you talking about?”