“I’m fine,” he said shortly, but his eyes flickered to where he must know the pendant sat, safe behind her winter coat, warm against her skin. He didn’t trust her anymore; he wouldn’t tell her how afraid he was.

Jaya unzipped her coat just low enough to pull the pendant out, so he could see. She knew he liked to keep an eye on it, like you might a snake that had slithered in your open window. His face paled a little at the sight of the solitary ruby, sitting precariously in its socket. Still, he said nothing.

Swallowing, Jaya said, “I know we spoke last night, but… but I didn’t say everything I wanted to say then.”

Grey didn’t speak or show any emotion; his arms hung loosely by his sides, his hair windblown and peppered with snow.

“There’s no excuse for what I wanted to do to you when I first got to St. Rosetta’s, Grey. None. It was a horrible thing, born from my rage and my pain. But I want you to know that after our fight in Aspen, I gave up on that plan completely. And this engagement with Kiran? I only agreed to it because I need to protect my sister and my family name. It’s what I need to do. The night we kissed in the snow, my father called to tell me we were in trouble. I didn’t tell you any of it because I wanted you to be able to move on. If you thought of me as callous, as evil, you would be able to forget me. I kept it from you, not to be deceitful, but to help you let go of me. You’re…” She stopped, her voice catching, and blinked away her tears. She needed to say this without going to pieces. “I’ve never met anyone like you before. You bring so much light and warmth wherever you go. You’ve completely changed me, you know. You’ve helped bring me closer to my sister.” She sniffed and kept going. “Grey, what your father’s told you… it doesn’t have to be the end. Your mother… You don’t have to believe what he believes. You… you deserve to be happy.” She put a finger under her eye to catch a tear. “Even if it’s without me, Grey, I want you to be happy.”

Grey studied her for a moment, then nodded once. His face was still distant, remote. She hadn’t gotten through to him at all.

Jaya could feel the tears coming to her eyes. “Can I sit with you? So you don’t have to be by yourself when the sun comes up?”

But he turned away, looking out over the edge of the mountain, a brief flash of torment lighting up his face before it went blank once more.

Grey