41. Cyrus

I slowly climb down from the carved stone ledge. Only Raze knew I hid here. When I told him about the moonshine makers, he wanted to know how I discovered their scheme.

This means he told Mireille where to find me.

I could send myself mad trying to work out the implications of who told who what. Why would she go back to see him? It's not the full moon until tomorrow. Will she go back again for that foul-smellling tea?

How much of his bullshit did she fall for?

I breathe in and enjoy her fresh, mountain air scent for a second. Raze had made everything so complicated, so twisty. It's all to make me fall on my ass. Try to contort myself around a web of lies. All in pursuit of a future I know is not mine.

So I'm not playing.

I spent hours trying to think of some crafty, dirty trick I could use and came up with nothing. I don’t have any. It’s not who I am.

I'm just going to be me. For better or worse.

"No wonder I could never find you," she murmured, tracing her way along the shelving.