“Are you ready yet?” Paul tapped his knuckle lightly on Lilian’s door.

“Just a moment.”

He continued to fiddle with the pin he was gifted by the mallelum, brushing his thumb over the engraving. He knew that saying goodbye to Lilian this night would be saying goodbye forever. And worse, he’d be giving her over to the schemes of Girgum. What did Girgum want with the Truits anyway? Paul tried to suppress the guilt he felt deeply. This would be their last night together, and he wouldn’t rush it for the world.

When he heard the sound of her turning the knob, he slipped the pin back inside his coat and spun around. Lilian stepped out in her most simple robe de diner, made of a dark espresso silk and wrapped at the waist in wine-colored ribbon. The dress fit her hips and trained in the back, fanning out in layers of lace. An ermine shawl covered her shoulders. Her hair was banded with a red velvet ribbon, and she let thick, curly tress from the back fall over her shoulder. But though she was beautifully garmented, her eyes gloomed.

“Is it too much?” she asked. “This is as simple as it gets for my fancier dresses.”

Paul gazed at her, not remembering a time when she looked so ravishing. “It’s perfect.” He sauntered over to her. “We should get going.”

“Wait. Let me straighten your tie.” Lilian adjusted it slowly, not once taking her eyes off of his. It seemed to work in luring him.

Then he stopped her wrist, “Lil.”

“Paul?”

“I know what you’re doing. Stop it. Don’t make it any harder for me to leave.”

“I promise you, I will,” she stated, unapologetically.

Paul stared into her beautiful black orbs, “I am truly terrible at this. Letting you go. If I could stay, I would.”

“Why won’t you?” She waited for an answer that did not come. “Nevermind. You won’t tell me.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it with traceable sorrow. “Let’s not let this be the mood of the night. Please.”

What does it matter? You’ll be gone either way.

He offered her his arm, and she hooked hers around it.

They barely made it out the door when Lilian paused, “There’s something I should tell you.”

“I know,” he said.

“I-”

“I know,” he cut her off.

Lilian grew frustrated that she was unable to get a word out. Tears crept at the corners of her eyes, and she just nodded instead. Pretending there was nothing weighing on her heart.

“Shall we?” Paul gestured out the door.

Something else blocked Lilian’s thoughts for a moment, but quickly she regarded him again, and they left. Lilian was quiet as a mouse for the whole ride. Her eyes roamed the streets as, surprisingly, more and more pedestrians became visible. The singular individuals eventually led to a congregated procession. There had never been this many people outside before that Lilian saw, even if it was a relatively small group. A cluster of light from their many lanterns and torches flickered among the buildings as the people moved together, pushing through the darkness. Though silent in their walk, they all knew exactly where they were going. What is going on over there?

“I have no idea,” Paul said as if he heard her thoughts. He depressed the lever of the car, decelerating as the crowd came to a stop. An officer approached the automobile. Paul looked his way, “What is the meaning of this? We have to get through.”

“I wish I could tell you though it’s beyond me, sir,” the officer answered. “Everyone you see here just came out of their homes, suddenly. Some, homeless, but joined all the same. We are trying our best to clear the street, but the people have the right of way. I gather it has something to do with a sound.”

“A sound?” both of them repeated.

“Yes. They say something is calling to them. But all I can hear is the cracking of flames. You?”

“Same.” Paul said.

“You?” The officer looked at Lilian. She did not answer. Because she did hear something. Something quiet enough to be ignored by the brain and loud enough to be heard by the heart. A call. A call with a meaning; “Come”.

“It’s like a third of the town’s gone stir-crazy.”

“Well, where can we go?” Paul demanded.

“What’s your point b?”

“My what?”

The officer lifted his finger, dotting a place in the air, “Point A-” then moved it linearly to another place in the air- “point B.”

“The Inn,” Paul replied, understanding.

“Then you will have to go around Belben Boulevard. Go straight on through until you get to that pawnshop, then make a left, a left again, and you’ll find yourselves on the other side.”

“Got it, thank you. And by the way, you do know that’s not a phrase, right?”

The officer grimaced and waved a dismissive hand as he walked away to tend to his business.

On their route, Lilian could not stop thinking about the sound she heard. It was clear but not very strong. As if she was not the target of its beckon. At least not yet. Soon, her thoughts were interrupted as she noticed how the road became increasingly dark and forbidding. Working lamps on one street became flickering, weak lights of another. Potholes everywhere made it difficult to pass. Each crack seemed to gape at her, some trailing from the ground up to the hovel buildings, that were most definitely not up to code. There was a concoction of putrid smells in the air. Shadows loomed by each side of the street. A cluster of shadows threw themselves into Paul and Lilian’s path, startling them both. They then appeared as mere children playing a dangerous game of tag so late at night.

“Hey! What in El’s name!” Paul shouted, throwing his hands up in frustration.

The kids continued blithely, some not leaving without returning a grimace or disrespectfully stuck-out tongue then laughing boldly.

“Paul. It’s alright. Let’s just keep going.” Lilian wanted to leave this part of town as soon as possible. It amazed her how different it was. Why was it in such a condition? Her uncle had never told her about the complexities of Brord. Granted, Hiplum had ghettos of its own, but the streets were relatively clean if not functional.

Then Lilian thought about how all of Brord was a bit broken in some ways. As though no one really cared for it. As though no mayor governed it. The eerie feeling of darkness blanketed her arms. Her mind went back to the night when Spencer met her in the alley. Was it only a night ago? And though she loved Paul’s company, Lilian felt nothing of his presence over her. She couldn’t understand why she felt so alone, so unsafe. She could not only feel his body but his soul parting from her. Eagerly, she clutched his arm. He was lowly surprised by the gesture.

“Lilian, don’t be scared.”

“All I fear is having to do all of this on my own. Without you.”

He could hear her silently weeping through every word. Paul wrapped his arm around her, one pulsing hand still on the wheel. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I love you–”

Paul immediately stopped the car with a loud skid. The both of them jerked at the abruptness.

Lilian choked in shock. What was she to say as Paul stared ahead with utter disappointment plain on his face? Tears, filling his eyes. Embarrassment engulfed her. Had she been too forward?

He turned and brought open palms to her face, then put his forehead on hers. Silent breaths were all that escaped him for a moment. Lilian caught whiffs of his smell. He smelled like books, money, and the leather of his car. He smelled like all that he was; a luxurious schoolboy. But there was still a trace scent that hadn’t left his clothes yet. The fresh tang of orange. Like the orange trees from Lilian’s yard. She wondered if him leaving her would result in a disappearance of this scent completely. A disappearance of her.

“I can not be yours,” he said in strangled tones. “I should not have stayed any longer.”

“But–”

“Listen to me, Lilian,” he demanded. “You must not trust anyone too much, although I trust you won’t. Don’t go any places you shouldn’t be. Don’t… worry yourself so much.”

“How can you ask me not to worry, Paul? You’re leaving me.”

“I need you to be strong. And smart. You are going to have to learn the order of this world, Lilian, vicious as it is. And if you truly believe El can keep you, lean on him.”

“Why do you say that as if you do not believe? You’re an El’s beloved same as me.”

Paul dropped his head to her shoulder. His thumb traced her cheek. “El… chooses… who he does and does not love, it seems. You are a very good girl, Lilian. Why you would ever put up with me, I can never understand. But you taught me more than I credit you for.” He pressed her hand against his chest. Near his heart. “I will carry you with me like a medal of honor on my chest as the one thing I have to be proud of. The pride of being loved by you. Do you… do you believe that I will?”

Lilian could hardly squeak a sound. She knew what was happening and wanted to hold onto him just a little longer. She’d been through this twice and now yet again; an insinuated goodbye. “Yes,” she managed to whisper. “Yes, I believe you will.”

“Then you have no need to carry me anymore. I have no right to ask this of you, but will you forget me? Can you forget me?”

Lilian couldn’t stop the pained expression from growing on her face as she shook her head vehemently. Her lips pressed together in grief.

“What is it? What is it?” he repeated. “Whatever you have to say, say it now.”

Lilian stared into his stormy blues, seeking an answer. Nothing she’d done worked in keeping him, not even wearing the special “emergency” dress her aunt gave her. What a romantic her aunt was. It did not matter, though. His mind was made. And if she couldn’t persuade him now, then it was best to stop. Only one word made it to her lips. A word that Jase put into her brain. A word she never once thought she’d use for someone like Paul, “Coward.”

Paul ranked in front of the inn. “You know, since I’m not going, I can take you back if you want.”

“And watch you leave? No thank you.” Without waiting on him she hopped out of the automobile.

“Wait!” he shouted, hopping out on his side and running over to her. He caught her before she went inside. His arms went around her. “I know I said I want you to forget me, but–”

“Paul! Don’t! Just stop. Stop torturing me with more words.”

“Then I won’t speak,” He spun her around and drew her close with clear intentions. But his face hovered hesitantly over hers.

That was enough for Lilian to push him away on her own accord. “Goodbye, Paul.” As she passed through the doors, leaving him out in the cold and not looking back, she felt ironically lighter with each clacking step. Lilian shed a few tears before approaching the main desk. She rang the bell, hoping to see Pete jump up again, but there was no Pete. Instead, she let her ears follow the sound of light crooning. She followed it to the dining area of the inn.

It was dim in the room. An array of tables existed there with people randomly seated at each. All were facing the platform where a woman in a familiar ivory feathered dress was lilting in song. Her hair was in sets of rolled pieces of fluffed white curls. Over her face, she wore a black linen mask that hid her cheeks and just over the eyes. This woman had a most heavenly voice. She sounded like a songbird. She moved through pitch and octave like water. Her voice floated into the air, keeping the crowd’s ready applause at bay. Everyone was completely silent, letting the unearthly sound lift and fall around them.

Lilian found herself speechless. All sadness she had been feeling was now forgotten and smothered in the lulling vocals. The lady broke her lilt and started into a verse that she sang as if it were the loveliest words in the world:

What sorta lies,

what sorta lies

make it to sound or the pen.

Your list of lies,

your list of lies

never got far from your head.

Your falsest hopes,

your weakest doubts,

your many wishes of dread.

Cling to the mind,

tiptoe the mouth,

But to the air they are dead.

As the woman continued her song, Lilian took in the lyrics subconsciously while all she could think was, “Wow, I wish I had a pretty voice like that.”

“It has very little to do with her larynx and more to do with spacial oral manipulation as well as proper breathing technique.”

Lilian swerved to see who chose to answer her. A disdainful look crossed her face, “You're not Paul.”

“Did I say I was?”

“So stop acting like it.” Lilian walked past him.

Spencer followed closely behind. “If you are looking for a place to sit–”

Lilian scoffed without letting him finish, “Sit with you? You would have to kill me first.” For a moment Lilian regretted her words, imagining Spencer swiping the life from her as he did to that boy (A boy whose name she sadly but inevitably forgot) and then propping her up in a seat next to him. He could very well do it.

“I would consider it,” he said with a sinister smirk, “but I like you better breathing.”

Lilian felt her body shudder under his eyes. “I will find a seat,” she promised.

“Fine. You can walk around like a wandering pup if you like. But remember that I extended my kindness to you. Which I wouldn’t usually do.”

Lilian turned away from him and started down one row. All she met was an annoyed audience. No matter what table she came to, politely asking if she could take a seat, each response was either a grimace or a shooing hand. She looked over the rows to see Spencer sitting down at the same table as Mr. Muggri and Mister Thomas. Wonderful. A table of full men she was wary of. With a defeated huff, she came over to them.

“So you decided you couldn’t resist me, eh?” The man said, turning to her with one arm over the back of his chair.

“Quiet, Spencer.”

“Miss Truit,” Mr. Muggri looked up at her, a smile on his face. “How nice of you to join us.”

“Yes, how nice,” Mister Thomas sneered. He glanced at Lilian for a heated second then turned back to Mr. Muggri to continue whatever discussion they were having.

It boggled Lilian how they could even speak during such a captivating performance. She looked down at Spencer, “Ahem.”

“What?”

Her eyes switched from him to an empty chair and back.

Spencer shrugged carelessly, “I didn’t drag you over here, my dear entitled lady. You said I’m not Paul and you’re right.”

Lilian refrained from rolling her eyes as she pulled out her chair and sat down.

“Speaking of Paul, where is he?”

Lilian ignored him. The Masked Maiden stopped singing and the room was drowned in applause. Lilian kept her eyes on the woman, enamored by her beauty. The dress’s plumage shimmered under the light, giving her a soft glow. Lilian couldn’t help but feel she had seen it before. But she had, hadn’t she? She had indeed. The armoire; Tessaline’s closet. It was the exact same dress. So that could only mean that… this Masked Maiden was Tessaline. Yes, she could see it now. Though she had glamoured herself and curled her hair, the real Tess was all there.

“Alright, enough of that!” announced Tess, the Masked Maiden. “Who wants a real show?”

The crowd hollered their wish.

Tessaline made a disapproving face, “What kinda lousy hootin’ is that? Come on now, y'all can do better than that!”

Everyone shouted, whistled, and shrieked to persuade their star. Even Lilian forgot herself and joined in the hubbub. The men at her table were amused, but she chose not to care.

The Masked Maiden silenced their cries with two lowered hands. She kept a long serious stare on the crowd.

“Have I missed anything?”

Lilian looked up. A scrawny but smartly clothed old man came up to the table with a larger, slightly younger man in uniform behind him. The man in uniform wore a gold star badge on his chest. He was the town sheriff.

“I think it’s just getting good,” said Mr. Muggri, gesturing for the men to sit. “Please, Mr. Mayor.”

Mr. Mayor? This helpless-looking man? Lilian suddenly had a lot of questions for him. Like “How do you explain the state of your town?”

“Ain’t she a beauty,” The sheriff said, settling into his seat. His eyes, fixed on the Masked Maiden.

As the two new men sat down, Lilian began to feel uncomfortably outnumbered. Then she heard a strong yodel reach across the room. She looked ahead and saw Tess yodeling a loud call. Then a more masculine voice echoed in reply from a place no one could spot. Suddenly, down from the mezzanine swung a well-dressed man whose presence one never forgets. Though he too wore a mask and a hat to hide his hair, it was clear to Lilian who he was; Jase.

His rope was tethered to one of the beams of the ceiling. He dropped onto the stage with impressive control. A fiddle, underneath his armpit. He drew it out along with the bow and began to work the fiddle. It was of an upbeat rhythm. He continued to play with one foot tapping on the wood beneath him. Tess started tapping her own feet, then her taps became some sort of jig. She lifted her skirt and danced in a circle. Seeing it made Lilian want to join in. How she loved to dance. Hiplum Academy taught her many flourishing steps, but she had always wondered what fun a folk dance might be. Tessaline caught up with the rhythm and started to sing:

Papa was an old man with too many problems.

Too many problems that no one could solve.

O’ Papa was an old man with too many problems.

Just couldn’t choose, so he lost us all.

She lowered two fingers at the audience.

Two wives, two houses, one road to connect them.

Two wives, two houses were one man’s life.

From one of the houses, he gained a child.

From the other house, he lost a wife.

Papa was an old man with too many problems.

Too many problems that no one could solve.

O’ Papa was an old man with too many problems.

Just couldn’t choose, so he lost us all.

While the crowd made no noticeable reaction to the words of the song, Lilian was all too bewildered and appalled by the story. What kind of man would do such a thing? But she remembered hearing Tessaline mention something similar to this when speaking of her father. What if this was her story?

“Let’s not act dumb here, Mr. Muggri,” Lilian all of a sudden heard the Sherrif say. Had they been talking this whole time? “Ever since you came to this town, I’ve been getting reports of people missing all over town, and some beyond.”

Did he say missing?

The tempo quickened as Jase fiddled vigorously. His adept fingers pressed effortlessly on the cords. Jase made his way through the aisles, his sound following him. At first, Lilian thought she was imagining it, but he was indeed making his way to her table. She felt her pulse quicken as he approached. Then he was there before her. With a churlish grin, he rotated around the men seated with her, annoying all of them as he strummed. His eyes remained on her, only her, causing her chest to heat. Stop it. Stop looking at me.

He came nearer until he was beside her chair, his bow sliding just above her head. His eyes widened intensely at hers, unveiling a playful fire behind them. To which Lilian raised a brow. He raised his own and bounced his shoulders as he played to tease her. Her cheeks buzzed as others stared. Including Spencer, who’s eyes reflected his jealousy. Lilian burst with laughter. She laughed the hardest she’d ever laughed in the past two weeks.

He played a little riff and nodded as if for her approval. She nodded back. It seemed like he was playing solely for her. In a room full of fragrances, Jase’s was the only she smelled. The fresh pine that emitted off his clothes was irresistible. For a moment she felt the leering urge to rip off that mask of his and… she looked the other way.

His meaty arm lowered in front of her. He snatched a peony from the table centerpiece, bit off the stem with his beautiful teeth, and placed it in her hair. As his finger brushed her ear, Lilian held her breath. Then he danced away, his music trailing behind him.

Tessaline spun faster and faster, then leapt forward onto a nearby table, startling its occupants. All the people clapped with her at the rising tempo. With a quicker pace, again she sang the chorus repeatedly, speeding up every time. The tune built up tremendously, ending with a sopranic crescendo at the very last sentence, “So he lost us all!”

Applause filled the air. “Bravo!” shouted Lilian. Those two really knew how to entertain. But instant horror took over once the Masked Maiden was suddenly unmasked. Gasps went around the room.

“Hey, look! It’s Messaline!” jeered some old female’s voice.

Everyone began to laugh.

“Yeah, Messy Tessaline and her man-whore!” someone added.

Jase stepped forward threateningly at the audience as Tessaline touched her face in shock. She was exposed. Lilian hated what she was hearing. How easily an adoring crowd could turn into hecklers. She could not keep quiet for another second, “Leave them alone!”

But they all just laughed and slandered her as well. Once Lilian caught Tess’s gaze, she saw the cold bitterness in her eyes. And just like that, Tess fled the scene, Jase went after her, and Lilian followed.

Tess fought to escape the mob that was surrounding her. Journalists jarred her with their overlapping bombardment of questions. With a jump, she mounted her horse. Jase was already on his. They kicked them into motion, parting through the sea of people.

“Wait! Tess!” Lilian appeared in front of her horse.

Tess drew back the reins so hard, she fell off, hitting the ground with her arms first. She had little injury, but she was startled by the fall. She looked up, wide-eyed, at Lilian, “What are you doing?”

“I- I…” Lilian wasn’t sure.

Tess stood up and shook off the pain. She ripped the ribbon out of her hair and dropped it on the road in proud rebellion. Again, she jumped onto Jaundice’s back and galloped away. Her loosened hair, flowing in a trail behind her.

Eventually, Lilian found herself squished in the middle of the angry crowd. She pushed through it forcefully with no excuse-me’s. Losing her balance, she stumbled into the shoulder of an old toothless man. He smiled a freakish smile at her with wide saucer-eyes. She grimaced and squirmed away. Lilian could only see the backs of the people she desperately worked to get past. Hands were touching her teasingly. Vile words were spewed at her. She was suffocating, insecure.

“Why am I here!” she repeated to herself. It was hard enough to breathe between these strangers, but then the disagreeable smell of smoke pervaded the air. Lilian coughed as she finally came out on the other side. She could see a rising black cloud coming from the east side of town. It could have been any building, still, Lilian worried…

“Lilian! Miss Lilian, dear!” Ms. Cora ran up to her, panting in her nightgown and bonnet.

“Ms. Cora?”

“Have you seen Hugh? He’s five, dark, and blind.”

Lilian shook her head, “I know him. I have not seen him, though.”

Ms. Cora smacked her forehead. She seemed to have double the silver hairs this night. Lilian placed a hand on her shoulder. “What’s happened to him?”

“I don’t know. I had just sent him off to bed. I’d gone off myself until I realized I forgot to give him his milk. He can’t see, so I always get it for him. Only me.” The old women clasped her hands together in a prayer-like manner.

Lilian patted her more as Ms. Cora nearly hyperventilated. “Here, have my handkerchief.”

“Thank you, dear. Please, help me find him. The police are currently occupied. He’s been talking about leaving since he could walk. It’s killing me to think of what could have happened to him.”

Lilian had just been through the craziest night of her life. Paul was gone. Tess probably hates her. Lilian was all alone with no one to turn to. How quickly it all went wrong. She watched as the smoke rose and the clouds duplicated. A building was on fire. Possibly hers. My stuff!

“Ma’am, I’m sorry. But I can’t help you.”

“But–”

“I can’t help you!” A guilty feeling caught up to her as she pushed back through the crowd. She left the old woman cold in her worry to see to her own.

Jase tagged behind Tess as she stormed into their home. She was furious. Furious and silent. He tore the mask from his face. “It’s alright, Tess. We just weren’t as careful as we should have been, I guess.” Jase tried to make sense of it, but even he couldn’t comprehend Tess’s mask suddenly vanishing.

Tess sneered at him. “Careful? Don’t talk to me about being careful, Jase?”

Jase sighed, “What is it now?”

“Lilian was there. Why was she there?”

“I’m sorry, what? You think I control where Lilian goes? Should I ask everyone else why they decided to come?”

“Jase. She knew nothing about it. You invited her, didn’t you?”

“I don’t see what you’re get’n’ at.”

“The song, Jase. You told me to sing that song. Had I known she was comin’...”

“And maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t. Because nothing should stop you from singing your song. And there was no plot of mine. Believe me, Tess, I didn’t put even two and two together.”

Tessaline chuckled in frustration. “I believe that.”

“Tess.”

“Why did you invite her?”

“I invited her because I wanted her to have a good time, that’s all. You should have seen her yesterday. After her date. She was crying because Paul… Paul was going to leave her.” Jase’s face twisted with sympathy, “And she just lost her uncle, Tess. Just lost him. The girl’s been through more in a week than she probly knows. She needed something to cheer her up. And tonight, at our show, you wouldn’t believe how alive she looked.”

“Oh, you noticed, did you?”

“Come on, what does that mean?”

She crossed her arms, “Just that any girl would feel alive under your gaze. I saw the way you were looking at her tonight. Like she was all that existed to you.”

“Tess, really?”

“Like you were a dog and she was your bone. It was the way you look at me.” Tess scoffed, “Something about having a mask on your face must’ve had you quite confident to stare at a lady of society like that…” She tilted her head and squinted, “You like the kid.”

“Like the…” Jase shook his head in disbelief and amusement. He thought Tess was being ridiculous as usual, but he decided to play along. “You know what Tess, say I do like the kid. Why do you care?”

Tess’s eyes widened. He knew he got her.

“Why wouldn’t I care?”

“No, answer the question. I’m always answering yours. Why do you care if I’m interested in Lilian? In fact, why have you put up with me all this time if you thought I was ever unfaithful to you.”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“No, let’s change the subject! Because the truth is Lilian has nothing to do with this!” He stepped closer to her. “I have stressed myself for years over convincing you that you are everything to me, and yet I never stopped to wonder if it even mattered. I still don’t even know if you love me or not. In all my actions I’ve bound myself to you, yet still you won’t bind yourself to me. By law or love. Do you see where I’m confused?”

Tess looked away from him. He was right. Why had she worried herself over him when she never loved him in the first place? “I’m sorry, Jase,” she said. “But I’ll make it easy for you.”

“Tess? Where are you going?” He watched as she walked to her room, then locked the door. Panicking, he tugged on the handle. “Open the door, Tess!” He was beating on the wood now. “Open the door!”

Her voice was not heard for about ten minutes before she opened the door again. She walked out with a suitcase in her hand. “This is for your own good.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” He snatched the bag from her.

“Jase! Give that back!”

He raised it higher, away from her reach.

“You can’t keep me here!”

“You wanna bet?” His grip remained tight around the handle. His chest nearly busted out of his nice blouse with each determined breath.

Tess sighed exasperatedly, “Do you want to be miserable for the rest of your life?”

“If that’s what it means to be with you.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I know.”

She tried to pry his fingers off the handle. “Please let go.”

“I can’t. I’ll die. I’ll die the way your mother did.”

“Stop that!”

“Tess, please,” his voice cracked. “There ain’t much I own in this world.”

“But that’s just it. You will never own me, Jase. I will never be yours.”

“Won’t you?” He stroked her cheek.

She brushed his hand away. “You need to stop this.”

“Where’re you gonna go?”

“Does it matter?”

Jase’s expression hardened, “Yes. It does.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Tess read between his words. “I would never go to that man.”

Jase raised his head to the ceiling then dropped it back to her, “What can I say to keep you here?”

“Nothing. I’ve made my mind up.”

Jase took a moment of silence to study her face. It was not like he didn’t see it coming. He knew eventually, she would leave. And in her eyes, he could see that now she was fully ready to. Jase shook his head in strong denial, “No. Tessaline Truit, you can’t do this to me.”

“I used you!” she shouted. “I used you for five years. I never loved you,” her words blew sharp.

Jase lowered his arm. He felt like his heart had just been cut into pieces. He couldn’t stare at Tess any longer; not without feeling the need to let his eyes spill over.

She raised her hand to his cheek. He flinched away, his jaw clenched, but her hand came back. “Listen to me. What you need is someone who can love you back. Someone who makes you smile, not frown. Someone who won’t turn your red hairs gray. Someone who will give you all of them. And that’s not me.”

“Tessaline,” he whispered for the last time in a weak beg.

She slid her hand over his. “Please.” She lifted her neck and pressed a farewell kiss to his lips. “Just let me go.”

Without resistance, his hand released, dropping the suitcase into hers. The world stopped as he watched his one obsession leave him lonely inside a cold, quiet house.