Chapter 32

With Albert’s help, I got a ride from the village to the Highlands port for free. Lattie had gone out of her way to resize a few of her dresses for me. Then, at her husband’s insistence, she trimmed my hair and dyed it a bold strawberry blond colour.

“You look stunning!” Albert had gushed when she was done with my makeover.

“The red hair brings out the brightness in your green eyes,” she’d said.

“I don’t want to draw anyone’s attention, Lattie,” I had complained. “I want to blend into the crowd.”

“You were not created to blend in, Jade,” said Albert. “You were made to stand out.”

I chuckled at his words. “How would you know?”

“I just do,” he had said, grinning like a proud father.

“Will come back this way and visit us again?” Lattie had asked hopefully.

Sometime in the course of the night, I had buried my hatchet with her and decided to let bygone be bygone. Staying angry with her won’t bring Domarius back to life, so it was pointless.

“Maybe,” I said. “But don’t hold your breath.”

No