Chapter Nine

**Maeva**

I took a deep breath and then knocked on Cori’s door. I’d put this off all day yesterday, hiding out in the garden most of the day, and now I knew it was time. Rox had counseled me thoroughly, and we’d even practiced different scenarios.

He opened it and smiled happily at me, making my heart cleave. He had no idea.

He reached for me, but I stopped him.

“Can we talk?”

He frowned and hi