FIA
"Why would you do that?" I tried to make it sound light. Almost teasing. "I know you tend to be myopic but geez."
I chuckled. He chuckled too, the sound rough but real.
"But you wouldn't just say that out of nowhere."
"Well..."
He paused, like he was choosing his words carefully.
"It was starting to feel like everything that led up to her presence here lined up perfectly."
We walked down the stone steps together.
"And also... when the witch Ophelia was murdered, I was certain I smelled Madeline's magic."
My heart kicked hard against my ribs.
"But it was just... my cognitive dissonance."
He stopped mid-step. Through the bond, I felt something shift. A spark of realization, sudden and sharp.
"What?"
He shook his head. "Nothing important."
"Cian."
"It's just that I was wrong. And I should have handled it better."
His hand tightened around mine.
