"Humor, that’s good," Dr. Keller said, amused, breaking my train of thought.

I wasn’t trying to be funny, though.

"We’re off to a good start then. Mrs. Salvero, can you tell me what happened after you attacked your husband?"

"A-Attacked?"

Oh.

Zade tipped his head, a small smile on his lips, but behind that, I could fucking see a beast waiting for the moment to... invade.

"It was a necessary move. He threatened to leave me on the horse. He deserved it."

"I didn’t ask why you attacked him," Dr. Keller clarified.

I gulped. "O-Of course. But you are examining me, aren’t you?"

"I am."

"So you should know my husband was being an ass."

Dr. Keller cleared his throat, but that didn’t stop me from glaring daggers at Zade.

"And after that?" he resumed.

"I went off on my own to hunt, but the shots kept scaring the deer away. I couldn’t track, so I kept wandering."

"Did you get lost?"

"No, the trees were marked, but then—"

I paled, remembering the corpse—Ian’s.

"And then?"

I peered at Dr. Keller through my lashes, a chill taking over my body. The state of Ian’s corpse flooded my mind.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes, ahem! I-I tripped and dirt got on my face."

Goosebumps rose on my skin, and I had to clench my hands into fists to avert them.

"Is that where you forgot your rifle?"

Fuck. How much does he know already?

The twins must have given him their own account. Did they give him a detailed explanation? Did they also find the time to tell him they were documenting a dead body?

"How do you know that?" I threw the question.

"You were found without your rifle."

I licked my lips. "Y-Yes, I lost it. In the bushes, I think."

Dr. Keller gave a nod. "What happened next?"

"Why is this necessary?"

He chuckled. "I told you already. I understand your apprehension. However, there’s no cause for concern."

"Lisa. I saw Lisa next." I pinned Zade with a look. "She wasn’t supposed to be at the hunt. She pointed a gun at me and was gonna shoot me."

My eyebrow furrowed as the light in the box stopped spreading. What happened after that?

"What else do you remember?"

"S-She had a finger on the trigger. Then I heard a shot, but I didn’t feel the bullet."

"Yes, because your husband came just in time to save you."

I gasped softly as I recalled.

~

Lisa’s finger curled around the trigger, and a shot rang through the air, but I don’t feel the impact of a bullet.

When I opened my eyes, there was a hole in her forehead. Then her body dropped to the floor.

In a slow exhale, I veered my gaze to Zade holding a gun.

~

I must have passed out after that.

A shiver seized my spine as everything fell in place. I was no longer in that box but out of it and into the light. I should have found relief, but I didn’t.

I saw Annabeth, or what I thought I saw. I could have easily passed it as a fragment of my imagination or how deadly the situation was, but I can’t get over the fury in her eyes.

I’ve known my sister for as long as I can remember, and never have I ever seen that kind of look. She was an angel. Always had her smile on, a soft laughter that could melt your heart, and the kind of goodness that was infectious. She was perfect, unlike me.

That’s right. What I saw wasn’t real, just my brain under pressure from all the stress.

"Mrs. Salvero."

Dr. Keller pulled me back.

"Zade came to the rescue. And I passed out after that. Must have been how tense the situation was, I mean, being almost killed by his secretary was bound to have its effect, right?"

A small smile stretched his lips. "Is there something else you want to tell me?"

"What else?"

"Your discussion with Ms. Wade. How did it go?"

"Except that she was a greedy bitch who wanted me out of the picture so that she could fuck my husband? What else could there be?"

I paused. Okay... I shared too much on that part.

"You can trust me, Mrs. Salvero. I’m here for your well-being and nothing else."

His words were comforting, and it was more intimate, like he knew me.

Did he?

I darted my eyes to Zade, a mistake, because he held my attention with a sharpness that seeped into my blood, and suddenly, there was nowhere else to look anymore.

It took every ounce of my willpower to tear my eyes away.

"Of course," I answered.

"I’ll be nearby in case you need me."

"You stay in Hightower?"

"I do now. I’m just one call away."

He pushed to his feet, and my eyes followed him as he walked back to Zade, who stood. They engaged in a quiet conversation.

After Dr. Keller was done, he left, the door closing behind him.

I’m alone with Zade.

That thought caused me more panic than getting shot at.

I heard his footsteps as he came closer, slow, as if cautious.

"You killed Lisa."

"An unnecessary discussion to begin."

My breath caught in my throat, but thankfully, he stopped.

"Hungry?"

"..."

He didn’t wait for my reply as he walked out the door, and suddenly I could breathe.

I tried getting up, but I felt too weak to move. All I could do was sit there, and stare around.

After some time that felt like forever, I heard the door. Zade walked in carrying a silver tray. He set it aside before unfolding the legs of the wooden bed tray and placing it over my lap.

The mattress dipped as he sat. "Eat."

I eyed the scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, buttered toast, and a bowl of fresh berries with a glass of freshly squeezed juice. A cup of coffee at the side.

"Did Cynthia make this?" I asked because this was usually how I liked my breakfast.

But she was on leave, wasn’t she?

"No," Zade replied. "I did."