Ware

loyal, still his. He knelt before me, pulling a small velvet box from his jacket pocke

know I've been distant lately. Work, you know. But you are alwa

e, to fall back into his arms. The irony was a bitter burn in my throat. He was giving me trinkets while giving Karis hi

voice flat, devoid of emotion

slipped, revealing a flicker of pan

ust a friend. You know how close we are. She probably just boug

st him, landing on a news alert flashing on the TV in the corner of the room. A picture of Karis, holding up her hand, the dia

ing from feigned anger to genuine concern. "I have to go," he said abruptl

ust "friends" with, who had just bought a fake engagement rin

voice barely a wh

ssive squeeze on the shoulder. "I'll explain eve

o more tears. I picked up my phone, my fingers flying across the screen. Dr. P

apartment building. He burst out of the car, his face contorted with worry. Karis was standing on her balcony, dramatically cl

rly lost my scholarship. He had never rushed to my side with such unbridled panic, not eve

e Karis, the embers turned to ash. He didn't love me. He loved the idea of me, the compliant little

'm so scared. I think someone was trying to b

er gently. "I'm here now. I'll protect you.

remembered one night, years ago, when I was sick with a high fever. He had held me, his hand

his new reality, his new project. My chest tightened, a sharp pain radiatin

thin line of blood welled up. It hurt, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotiona

too busy being her hero. The thought, the realization, hit me with crus

ing at my arm. "Oh my go

a strange mixture of triumph and malice. "Oh dear, Fae! Are you alright? It's just a scratch. G

rsation, weeks ago. Karis had been complaining about a rival at Juilliard, someone "less talented" who was getting all the attention. "I

ud. It wasn't just Glenn who had betrayed me. Karis, my best friend, wa

surge of pure, unadulterated fury. I wouldn'

"eternal loyalty." I clutched it for a moment, then, with a resolute grunt, I flung it with all my might int

s, his back to me. He wouldn