Page 38 of For the Ghastly and Beautiful

“I’m so sorry, Isolde. I had no idea that he was fol—”

“I did. It’s okay, Ada. He needed to know. As cowardly as it may seem, telling him this way was the only way I could imagine.”

She steps away from me as Ecaeris comes into view, vibrating with tension.

“You lied.”

“I know,” Isolde admits. “I won’t apologize. I had my reasons.”

I bite my lip and turn away from them. “I’ll leave you to talk. I shouldn’t be here for this.”

“Don’t leave now,” he snarls. “She’s already told you more than I’ve ever known. You should stay to finish the rest of the story. Please do tell us more about deceit and manipulation, Mother.”

I trudge through the garden, no longer the lively, color-filled space it was minutes ago. My mind whirls, mulling over Isolde’s motives as fury trails behind me.

Does she think Ecaeris will forgive her for this?

Will he know I had no part in her plan?

Why do I care so much?