Chapter 4

(Rietta’s POV)

The gathering ended not long afterward. Fredrik went to the carriage grounds to retrieve the carriage, leaving Glyneth and me waiting outside the tavern entrance.

We had only just stepped outside when Glyneth suddenly patted her pockets and frowned.

"My communication crystal is missing. Rietta, could you go back and help me look for it? I'll search around here. Maybe it fell somewhere on the way out."

I nodded and turned back toward the private chamber.

I searched every corner of the chamber and checked every table, but there was no sign of Glyneth's communication crystal. Eventually, I returned to the tavern entrance.

The moment I arrived, I found complete chaos.

Fredrik had another werewolf by the collar. Two tavern attendants were struggling to hold him back, each gripping one of his arms.

Blood stained the corner of the stranger's mouth. He spat onto the ground, cursed under his breath, and stormed away.

Behind Fredrik, Glyneth stood trembling with tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were swollen from crying.

The instant Fredrik noticed me, he shrugged off the attendants, strode toward me, and grabbed my wrist.

"Rietta, did you leave her alone on purpose? Do you realize how dangerous that was? If I hadn't heard the commotion and rushed over, she could have..."

I frowned.

The accusation came so suddenly and without reason that all the frustration I had buried throughout the night surged to the surface.

"She told me she left her communication crystal in the private chamber, so I went back to help her find it. What does that have to do with me?"

Fredrik's expression darkened immediately.

"Glyneth has been holding her communication crystal the entire night. When did she ever leave it behind?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Rietta, if you're going to make up a story, at least choose a believable one."

For a moment, I stood frozen.

Then everything suddenly became clear.

Glyneth slowly rose to her feet and grabbed Fredrik's arm.

"Why are you yelling at her? Who gave you permission to yell at her?"

Then she turned toward me with tears still shining in her eyes.

"Rietta didn't mean it. I'm sure of it. It's my fault for not staying close to her. That's why I ended up alone."

I stared at her, a dull ache spreading through my chest.

Twenty winters...

We had known each other for twenty winters, but now she was using such a cheap trick against me.

All those years of friendship, every memory we had shared, suddenly felt meaningless, as if twenty winters could be thrown away without a second thought.

Twenty winters of friendship, and it was worth nothing.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I looked coldly at both of them.

"I already explained it. She asked me to look for her communication crystal. Believe me or don't."

I shrugged lightly.

"I don't care anymore."

Fredrik frowned deeply.

"Rietta, you've disappointed me."

"If you're upset about what happened earlier tonight, there is no reason to take it out on Glyneth. And she still calls you her best friend."

With those words, he wrapped an arm around Glyneth and guided her toward the carriage.

I remained where I was.

As I watched the carriage disappear into the distance, the pain I had been suppressing finally surfaced.

My eyes burned.

I drew a deep breath and forced the tears back.

Crying over those two was not worth it.