The meeting where she was traumatised from watching a man be burnt alive. Yes, she is sure she looked her best. She rolled her eyes.

She gazed around; Kell leant forward as if he were listening to the call. He probably was with his fae senses.

‘How are you?’ he asked.

‘I’m fine.’ She could hear Tharin baring his teeth through the phone.

‘Don’t be like that, sweetheart.’

‘Goodbye, Tharin,’ she said with finality.

‘I don’t get this coldness. When this search is over, we are going to be together again anyway.’

Hells, he’s going insane.

Bethan laughed. ‘We are not getting back together.’

‘But we are meant to—’

‘No, we broke up. We’re done. I’m not even going to entertain this fuckery you’re pulling.’

She wanted to pat herself on the back for standing up to him, but that quickly came to a halt.

‘You can’t do anything to stop it.’ Tharin’s voice boomed through the phone, reminding her of a different place at a different time. She flinched.

‘You won’t last long in this world without someone from my status to protect you. You’re no better than those useless humans.’

It hit her harder than she thought it would. Tears welled; she wiped them away before Kellan could see. She gulped in anticipation, waiting for what he would say next.

Kellan snatched the phone from her hand.

‘Text me instead of her with the invitation for the party,’ Kellan seethed before he hung up the phone.

‘What did he say to you?’

Bethan’s body shook; she stared at the floor, avoiding him, hoping to disguise her weakness.

‘Tell me.’ He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb wiping the tears off her cheek. ‘Please.’

Pushing him back, she shook her head again. ‘You don’t have to care so much. He’s not the Adelian Resistance. You don’t have to protect me from him.’

‘It’s not because of the job, Bethan; you’re my friend,’ he retorted. ‘Before I met you, Lupo was all I had. You’re the only person I’m close to. And I never had that before; I want to do it right.’

Bethan stood back and released a breath. The small tears on her face had already dried up.

‘You are my friend,’ she whispered. ‘You’re a damned good one too.’

The harsh lines on his face softened. She told him precisely what Tharin said to her. She told him about how he still thought they were getting back together. She told him that Tharin thinks she is useless. Kell listened to her quietly with tightened fists.

‘No wonder you’re crying,’ he said.

A low laugh sprung from her lips.