JAMIE’S POVEileen stared at me for a long, silent beat, her dark eyes searching my face while her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths. Slowly, she reached out, placed her palms flat against my chest, and pushed me away.“We have work to do, Jamie,” she said quietly, her voice devoid of heat as she brushed past me.I stood rooted to the stone wall, watching her pull her dark cloak tightly around her shoulders as she walked away. A heavy, hollow ache settled deep in my chest. I knew in my heart why she was building these walls. She felt it was utterly wrong to allow herself to be happy, loved, or comforted while Thalia was still locked in an underground cell, suffering at the hands of dark magic. I couldn't help but wonder when the two of them had become so fiercely close, or how deep their friendship truly ran. Beyond her loyalty to Thalia, she also felt deeply cheated by me. I had kept my bloodline, my secrets, and my true nature hidden from her, leaving her to feel like
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