Page 193 of House of Lilith

There’s a second of silence before she asks, “How long have we known each other, Nyx?”

I let out a frustrated breath. “Since we were ten.”

“And I was always a little scared of you and I thought you were a bit of a bitch. At least youweretome. Still, for as long as I can remember, there was something about you that made it impossible for me not to like you. Like, one good word out of your mouth has always felt more important than a thousand from others.”

I roll my eyes at her. It doesn’t deter her.

“But now…” She pauses to squint at me. “With everything I know, I feel I can finally start tounderstandyou, too.”

“Oh really?” I drawl.

“Yes, and let’s just say, that little stunt you pulled the other day,” she says scoldingly, “it made me stop being scared of you altogether.” Then she turns serious again. “And I thought I could see it, but now I know for sure. You’rehurting, and I came to tell you I’m here for you, if you want me to be.”

“This is nothing,” I snap and I tear my eyes away from her, fighting not to show emotion.

“Please,” she replies sarcastically. “You’re pining.”

I push myself up a little, throwing daggers at her. “What did you just say to me?”

“Fine,” she says, raising her hands in defense, “no need to bring out the f-ing knife.But…”

“Yes?” I ask, wanting her to finally spit it out so I can get her the fuck out of here.

She hesitates for a second. “I just have to tell you I really,reallythink you should answer his texts.”

That makes my eyebrows pull down. Did Mother put her up to this? Trying to save my engagement?

“I would’ve come back anyway,” she starts, “but, um, Howe…”

Howe? And I can’t help but notice it’s the first time she’s referred to him by his last name, and so flatly at that.

“What about him?” I demand in a breathless voice.

“He paid me a visit just now,” she replies hesitantly. “Told me he’s been texting, calling, coming knocking all day, with no success. Basically, he asked me to try to convince you to see him.”

There’s a moment of silence before I turn my eyes away from her. “I’ve already said goodbye to Howe,” I say in the flattest voice I can muster. “Not planning on doing it again.”

“He seemed really desperate to talk to you.”

“Well, he has a way of making thingsseem…”

For a second, she just squints at me. “How long has this been going on, Nyx?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I snap. “It’s over now.”

But right now, it’s five PM and I can hear the commotion outside and I hate it that Hilde’s here to see my shame, but I still get up and walk up to the window.

I have to see him leave. Maybe if I see him leave, with my own two eyes, my heart will just give up on this whole bullshit.

And there they are, the remaining Fiains, being escorted by the Pied Piper, almost all the professors and a whole bunch of students, all moving across the gardens and straight for the nearest Pull Chamber.

I grit my teeth when I spot him among them.

“I just think you’ll regret it if you just let him leave,” I hear Hilde say as she comes to stand beside me. “But of course, it’s all up to you.”

I don’t say anything, all my focus on making sure I witness him get zapped the fuck out of here.

I see him wait for his pack to use the Pull in groups of five.

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