“I’m scared, and I’m unsure whether I want to deal with the messy reality of relationships,” she says finally.

“Welcome to my world,” I tell her sincerely. She rewards me with a pinch. No gratitude in this world, I tell you.

Valentina gets to her feet and I fall to the side. “Taraana’s waiting outside. I will go and tell him it’s okay to come in.”

She leaves, and I consider jumping in the bushes to hide. Then decide against it because my dignity is already in danger. So, I sit back and start counting to a hundred. I have only reached thirty when I hear Taraana’s footsteps.

He even walks differently now. I pretend fascination with the blooms of a bird-of-paradise plant to avoid having to look at him. He sits down beside me, close enough that I can feel his heat but far enough that no part of his body is touching mine.

“I haven’t changed that much,” he says. Have I mentioned how much I hate the fact that he knows how I feel? “Look at me.”

His words are an entreaty, and one I reluctantly yield to. I know I have made a mistake as soon as I look at him. He looks like someone I used to know. This Taraana, so flush with magic and confidence, is strange to me.

“I am still him.”

“Stop reading my mind,” I snap, and immediately feel bad.

“It’s the bond. It has made our connection so much stronger,” he replies. “I’m sorry. I’m doing my best not to.”

“Try harder.” Why am I being this horrible? “Look, I’m sorry. Just leave me alone for a while, and I will be okay.”

“No, you won’t. You haven’t been okay since Lucknow,” he says. “It wasn’t your fault. I chose to go with your plan, and I am glad I did.”

“You almost died because of me.” I cross my arms. “I decided to play with your life and you almost died. If Tabassum Naaz hadn’t done what she did, you may still have been with Baarish, being tortured.” I will hate myself for that.

He sighs.

“Is this where you tell me I am being silly and you were fully on board with my plan so I need to stop imposing my guilty conscience on you?” I say in a rush. “Because, get this, I’ve already told myself that. And it’s not working.”

“So, what do you want to do?” he asks.

“What if I take off the star? What if I disappear?” The words are out before I can stop them, and once they are, I can’t take them back. No—I won’t take them back. Taraana freezes. I risk a look. The heartbreak on his face breaks my heart. Why am I doing this?