‘You saved yourself, Lily Knight. The power flowing from you as I carried you out of there kept me upright. It was almost as if your energy was flowing through me, giving me the strength to move forwards. Without you, I’d have died on the floor by your side.’

‘You came here for Grace though. You could’ve taken her and run. You saved what you came to save, so why waste your time?’

‘I stopped doing this just for Grace a long time ago, Lil. There was never going to be a scenario where I came out without you. If you’d died in there…’ He took her hand again, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Lily’s heart hammered against her ribcage, desperately trying to free itself from her chest and find a new home, huddled right next to Jem’s. ‘Lily—’

Grace yawned loudly and sat up, peering across the flames to Lily and Jem. Jem dropped her hand and stood, instinctively moving towards his sister. Quelling her disappointment, Lily watched as Jem went to sit by Grace and was struck by how similar they were, and yet how different. They looked like twins – they had the same large, dark eyes that sat beneath a strong brow, framed by sharp cheekbones. Their hair was the same shade of deep brown that glistened bronze in the light of the sunrise, but Grace’s was shorter than Jem’s, and less wild and unkempt. He let it down from his hair tie and the waves fell to his shoulders. Lily liked it best like that.

They were deep in a mysterious conversation. Lily noticed that where Jem had a softness to his demeanour, Grace looked fierce and solid. She couldn’t help but feel slightly terrified of her. After all, they hadn’t met in ideal circumstances, and she was Jem’s sister. If Grace didn’t like her, so much would change.

Conscious that she was staring, Lily was about to look away when Jem caught her eye and smiled, gesturing for her to join them. She limped over tentatively, and Jem helped her to the floor again. She crossed her legs as she sat next to him.

‘I feel like we might’ve got off on the wrong foot…’ Grace began. Lily was surprised to see that she looked nervous.

‘Circumstantial. You were doing your job. I’m glad we can start again.’ Lily held her hand out in a gesture of friendship. ‘I’m Lily, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.’

Grace grinned, her smile lighting up her face. ‘Grace. The pleasure is mine.’

At that moment, Alice stirred and groaned. Grace immediately shot to her side, as if a string in her ribcage was tied to Alice and compelled her to be by her side at all times. She knelt by Alice’s shoulder and gently ran a thumb over her cheekbone, brushing Alice’s hair from her face. That small gesture proved to Lily that she didn’t have to look out for Alice in the same way anymore. It felt strange … almost sad. The bittersweet acknowledgement that her best friend didn’t need her so much anymore. She had someone else to love her now.