Chapter 18 : Powerful Forces

Ferrah

It took me hours to calm my nerves after the meeting with the elders. That bastard Gilliam had crossed the line, and I had wanted nothing more than to punch him square in the nose. That wasn’t what had me so worked up, though. It was Onyx.

It was the way that he had defended me. He had been so attentive to my mood during the entire meeting and had stepped in to comfort and soothe me in ways that were so subtle that I didn’t fully appreciate them until I was back in this prison of a room with nothing to do but reflect.

It bothered me immensely that he had done that for me, but it bothered me more that I had been so reliant on him.

It had seemed so natural in the moment for us to behave the way we did.

I hated myself for it. I had to remember that he was the enemy. No amount of kindness now could undo what had been done. Once the bell was rung, it couldn’t be unrung, as my grandmother always said.

I cupped my chin in my hand and leaned against the windowsill.

The su