Page 16 of Masked Fate

“For what?” I ask, eyes widening. Elios is the sweetest of the brothers and the most chill. I don’t know them as well as I do Rave, but Elios seems to have that typical youngest sibling energy about him. He’s the most carefree and quick to smile.

“No idea, they won’t say.” Astrid shrugs, her eyes going to Rave, standing beside Cove with his arms crossed. “I’ll be back.”

Soren and I are left alone, which is extremely awkward. I play with the hem of my purple tunic, wondering if I should say something.

What do you say to someone you love but hates you?

“You here for the party tonight?” he suddenly asks, his tone sharp. Swallowing hard, I turn to face him. I know he doesn’t think I belong here. And maybe I don’t. But it’s my escape from all the shit waiting for me in Allyria.

And he’s here.

“Astrid invited me,” I reply, feeling the need to defend myself. He doesn’t want me to be here and is trying to make me feel unwelcome.

“Your kingdom must just run itself,” he mutters, scowling. He runs his big hand through the middle, longer part of his blond hair, appearing frustrated.

Just by my close proximity.

“I’m not my mother, Soren,” I whisper hoarsely, my gaze dropping to my black leather boots. “I’m sorry for what she did to you. I truly am. But I’mnother.”

We’ve never outright discussed the past with each other.

He’s always made little hurtful comments, and I’ve always feltguilt and backed away.

He’s silent for a few moments, but I can feel the tension radiating off him.Is he surprised that I’ve brought this up?

My chin suddenly lifts with tight pressure from the tip of his thumb and index finger. He looks me dead in the eyes.

Cold.

Assessing.

“You have her eyes, witch,” he murmurs, letting go of me and taking a step back, putting distance between us. “And her blood. I was tortured inyourhome and lured in byyoursister.”

“I wasn’t in the kingdom at the time. I didn’t know—”

“Didn’t know what? That I was being held in a dungeon and used to try to get revenge against a male that your mother was fucking? You’re telling me you had no idea? I find that hard to believe.”

My mother used to sleep with Rave’s dad.

That’s how Rave and I became friends because we’d be left to hang out with one another while they were together.

I don’t know what happened, but my mother became scorned and wanted revenge on King Tane.

Ebony brought Soren to her.

“Soren—”

“I don’t trust you, witch. And I never will.”

He says ‘witch’ in such a derogatory way it makes me flinch.

And you know what?

I don’t deserve this shit.

Hisshit.

I shouldn’t have to pay for crimesIdidn’t commit.

---