Page 3 of Halfblood Deceived

Aella looked down at her plate, divided by lingering hunger and shame.

Hunger won out.

She sliced the now cold steak into four pieces and chewed them in record time, then drank the juices from the plate.

As expected, she was met by two disgusted looks and one indulgent one.

Claudia huffed, amused. “If the plate were edible, you’d have it too.”

“Probably,” Aella admitted, just barely resisting the urge to lick it clean.

“I bet Micah would be disappointed to know you’re back to your old habits,” Esther mused, brown eyes full of wicked amusement.

“I bet he won’t find out since he’s not here,” Aella said.

Bethany shrugged as she poured cereal into a bowl of milk. “Maybe yes, maybe not. I bet he’d be happy to know you are spending your time doing more productive things than eating. Like becoming acquainted with child care.” She passed the bowl to Charity, lifting a finger in silent warning so the two-year-old wouldn’t play with her food.

Aella was more than acquainted with child care. The fear of being even more of a disappointment to Micah made her comply with anything. From taking care of the babies while their mothers were having a spa day—which was about three days a week—to dying her hair every other week to keep the stubborn bright red color subdued.

She loved spending time with Ezequiel and Charity. They didn’t look at her as if she stank.

But she was tired of obedience.

Of being told what to do by everyone, including those who were supposed to be her peers.

Aella had enough ropes around her neck. She felt as if one more would cut her air supply and kill her.

“I bet Micah would love to hear that,” Aella finally said, standing to put her plate in the sink. “But since I’ve been covering your duties for most of the month, I think you both owe me a favor. Like not mentioning everything I eat to my husband.”

“It’s not like you have anything better to do,” Esther said, nostrils flaring.

“Neither do you,” Aella said. “And I bet Ben wouldn’t be happy to know you spend most of your day time sleeping instead of taking care of Ez, would he?”

“You wouldn’t,” Bethany said, mouth curling into a derisive, nasty smile.

Aella hummed. “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”

With that, Aella stormed out, heart in her throat and palms sweating, but darkly satisfied.

Claudia caught up with her in the hall. “Excuse me, who are you and what have you done to my best friend?”

“Aren’t you the one always telling me to stop letting those two use me as their doormat?” Aella asked.

Claudia laughed, wrapping her tiny arm around Aella’s waist. Her head barely reached Aella’s shoulders. “Yes, but you never listened before.”

Aella half hugged Claudia. “It’s time I did.”

“Library or garden?” Claudia asked.

“Garden,” Aella said.

* * *

The massive garden had a fountain with a statue of two chubby cherubs in its center. Roses and apple trees created a circle around an open area with perfectly mowed grass. Several wooden benches faced the bubbling fountain.

Aella and Claudia each grabbed a red apple and sat, sides pressed, watching the starry sky and half-full moon.

“Why are you so warm?” Claudia asked. “Do you have a fever?”

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