Page 70 of The Sins of Silas

His green eyes widened. “Uh…hi?”

The girl speaking ran her hands through her aqua hair. “My friend over there,” she hushed, motioning her head back at a girl standing awkwardly by the stage. “She thinks you're cute. Would you be interested?”

His eyes grew. “Oh, I'm taken. My girlfriend's just outside the tent.”

The girls laughed, and the one speaking batted her lashes. “She doesn't have to know. You two could just sneak in one of the private rooms in the other tent.”

I was about to tell this bitch to kick rocks, but Edmund beat me to the point.

“My girl is a thousand times sweeter, kinder, and prettier than all of you. Better in every way, actually,” he said simply, the girls’ faces dropping. “So, no. I'm not interested.”

My mouth went slack as he walked away. Dani shot me a perplexed stare, but I gave her a wave of dismissal. I rushed to follow him, leaving the dumbfounded girls behind.

I gaped at the side of his face as I followed him wherever he was going, which appeared to be out of this area.

“What?” he asked, golden brows drawing together.

“What do you mean, ‘What?’ I've never seen you…behave in such a manner.”

He stopped once we exited the tent, running his hand through his blond waves. “Those girls pissed me off, actually thinking I'd do anything like that. It's one thing to admit attraction, but to suggest I betray her in such a way…” He shrugged, looking around the crowds of people playing games. “Elowen is the last person on this planet deserving of any more heartbreak. I just want to be by her now if that's the type of people that are here.”

I pulled my lips to the side. “Wow, Edmund. I think you may have actually earned a bit of my respect.”

He blinked, then gave a soft smile. “Let's find her.”

Westrode back to the main stage, where a woman was posing atop an elephant that was prancing its heavy legs about. Acrobats were performing around the border, the ringleader off to the side.

I scanned the space, staring at the various heads until light pink hair and violet caught my eye.

“Over there,” I shouted to Edmund, pointing toward Elowen, Viola, and Era.

He gave me a lopsided grin, and when he slapped my arm, I whirled at him.

His smile grew. “It's rude to point!” he mocked. “Didn't your mother teach you any manners?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, and damn me for smiling.

“Ha!” His eyes lit up. “I made you smile!”

I let out a groan just as he called out the girls’ names. They turned, and Elowen waved excitedly as they stood from their seats and weaved their way toward us.

Where was Lena…and where was Silas?

“Mare! Edmund! You should've seen the acrobats hanging from the ceiling earlier!” she panted, throwing her arms out. “The rings they held on to were lit on FIRE!”

Edmund chuckled, then pulled her into a hug. She melted in his embrace, and for the first time, I didn't feel disgusted looking at them. Perhaps he really did care for my sister.

Okay, fine. I already had quite literallyfeltthat he cared. But I didn't accept it…not until now.

Roland, Hendry, and Dani wandered back to us a moment later.

“Why'd you guys dip?” Dani asked, a crease between her blue brows. “You didn't like it?”

“That wasn't it—” I began.

“I just missed Elowen,” Edmund interrupted, and thegirls went,“Aww.”

“I love you,” he mumbled to her.

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