Chapter 214

Ethan

She was fast.

But I was faster.

I followed her through the corridor, past the main hall, down toward the east wing where she always went when she wanted to be left alone. Her pace was sharp, her shoulders stiff. Like she was trying to outrun everything that had just been said. Like she was trying to forget what she had heard. Like she was trying to ignore the pain that she was feeling. A pain that she was not supposed to feel.

“Delilah, wait.” I said, wanting her to listen to me. Wanting to explain this to her. This was not how she was supposed to hear this, and Carter had no right to be interfering in something that did not even concern him.

She didn’t stop.

“Just listen to me for a second…”

She spun around so quickly I nearly collided with her. I stopped raising my hands in surrender, silently letting her know that I was not going to force her into anything. I just wanted to talk.

Her eyes blazed, her voice venomous. Her