ARIA
That he had somehow walked away from a brotherhood of monsters who took what they wanted and left destruction?
My eyes squeezed shut. I couldn’t believe that. Not when I still remembered the feeling of being paraded like a prize in front of them.
Maren must have noticed, because she quickly changed the subject. “You know, most people don’t get kissed because they ‘smell bad.’” She made air quotes with her fingers. “That’s gotta be a first.”
A laugh wanted to break out of me, but it got stuck somewhere in my throat.
“I don’t think that’s why he did it,” I said quietly.
Maren nodded, her tone turning softer. “Neither do I.”
We walked a little farther until we reached the edge of the stone path. The garden beyond was quiet, and getting cold in the late evening air.
My though
