Chapter 111. That Should Be Me

Hermes POV

“Hello.” Her voice shifts, strange, like she’s speaking to someone unfamiliar.

In a beat, her face drains of color. I watch her lips tremble as she listens on the line.

“What happened?” I mouth, careful not to break whatever fragile thread she’s holding.

Her gaze flicks to me—haunted, fragile—and then she pulls away, sliding off me. The sudden absence is cold. She tugs her skirt down, fumbling to make herself decent, before disconnecting the call with a sharp tap.

“I need to go back,” she whispers, urgent. Her voice is thin, frayed at the edges. “To Ohio.”

I zip my trousers, forcing my tone to remain calm. “Are you okay?”

She doesn’t answer, but turns her face to the window, shoulders suddenly stiff. Silence sits heavy in the car, heavier than anything we’ve shared. I grip the wheel harder than necessary, because pushing her now feels wrong. So I drive quietly, but inside, I hate the way I can’t reach her.

At the vill