ieda

a ghost. I had one hour before Jaxo

a black

me? Trash. The shoes he insisted I wear? Trash.

I had slept alone for three year

tificate, and the small velvet box containing my grandmo

the elev

staring at the pile of garb

, loosening his tie. He looked exhausted.

and a leather jacket. My violin case

sound. "Stop it. You can't leave. The

contract

to intimidate me. "You are being irrational. Look, I

ulled out a jewelry box. "I boug

a diamond necklace. H

on," h

N

da, put

ice walked in. She had a k

eyeing the diamonds.

looked between

apology gift,"

the box from his hand. "It's beautif

t me, daring

looked at me with a pleading expression, as if say

ment. The final

the allowance he gave me for "maintenance." I threw it

," I said. "And

ted, his face turning

my voice steady. "I, Elfrieda of the Tate

avy. The magic of the rejec

chest. Even if he denied the bond,

't," he gasped.

he didn't say it. He refu

tter," I said.

opened the email I had

demy of Wolfen Ar

cholarship

cce

it

an bloodlines. And you..." I looked at Janice, who was clasping the n

d, his voice shaking, "you leave with nothin

olin case highe

e a nobody th

t. I didn't

heard Jaxon roaring my name, s

three years, the silence

ngers now," I whispere

zed. A reply

. The Kline Royal

ight air. I was broken, scarr