Clara kept her eyes trained on me before she disappeared backstage. I inhaled sharply, quickly facing Zade.

He checked his Rolex. "If we get started now, then we’ll be just in time for our date."

I had a feeling this date would happen no matter what I said or did. He had that look in his eyes, the one daring me to defy him.

I yanked my wrist from his hold and walked away without a word. I was quick to get backstage and through the door to the dressing room.

"Mr. Salvero is so handsome!"

"I haven’t seen him up close before. I’m so glad I didn’t miss rehearsal today. I would have regretted it!"

"God, he’s so yummy!"

"Ana’s so lucky!"

"Did you see the way she looked at him, though? I think she was mad that he came."

"Honestly, if I were in her shoes, there’s no way in hell I would be mad. I’d be climbing that mountain at first—"

Their little chat ceased when they finally caught notice of me.

They murmured among themselves as they quickly packed up their things. Their speed hastened from the look I pinned them with, and my eyes never left them until they exited the room.

I scoffed, walking straight to my locker to grab my handbag, changing out of my ballet shoes for my flats, and shoving the rest of my things into my bag.

"Why are you in such a hurry, Ana?"

I froze in place when I heard Clara’s voice behind me, as well as the door closing shut.

I tensed, but I did my best to shove the feeling away as I faced her. "Rehearsals over."

She giggled, but the sound died the moment it left her lips. "Are you avoiding me?"

"We see each other almost every day in the academy," I replied, keeping my voice firm.

"It’s funny you mention that when we barely do. You don’t return my calls or texts, either. Something like that, says something else, doesn’t it?"

"It says you’re mistaken. I think you’re forgetting the reasons for my absence. You don’t expect me to reply to your texts when I’m too busy trying to live through the next day."

"Oh, right!" She pitched, but she wasn’t as ecstatic, just full-on sarcastic. "The supposedly bear attack."

I narrowed my eyes in question. She sounded as if she didn’t believe it, which is highly unlikely. Except Gabriel had gone up and ranted about killing his parents.

I doubt that... he wouldn’t have gone through that trouble to stage a bear attack just to spill the next day.

"Yes, bear attack," I said. "It was a bloody experience."

"Oh, please, Ana."

Why do I get the feeling she knows something?

"But that’s by the way. Thank God you didn’t die." She rolled her eyes. "It would have been tragic, just like your sister."

I clenched my fist so hard I could feel my nails digging into my flesh, but the bite of pain was the one thing keeping me from throwing a punch.

Months ago, I could have easily put Clara in her place, but that was before she started fucking Shane.

She pulled out the chair and sat, crossing her legs. "Ana, I’m beginning to doubt our new friendship. I wonder how that will sound when I tell Daddy. He won’t be happy about that."

"We’re not friends."

"Yes, we are, we always were, even though we’ve had our differences. But it did solidify when you called me and gave me your answer."

My chest rose and fell heavily. "Still don’t make friends. I’m just using you as much as you are."

"Huh... that sounds about right." She smacked her lips. "Shane wants to test your loyalty."

"Loyalty?"

"Yes, just something to make sure that you really stand with us. I mean, you still wanna bring down Zade, don’t you?"

I hesitated.

Clara blinked, fixing me with a suspicious stare. "Don’t you?"

My lips parted, but the words failed me.

Clara pushed to her feet and closed the distance between us.

"Odd. You sounded very convincing last week, and now you have no words. Don’t tell me you have fallen for your sister’s murder."

A twisted feeling burned my chest, but I leveled it as my rising anger.

"That’s where you’re wrong," I replied coldly.

"For your sake, I hope you’re right. There’s no backing away from this. I’ll contact you when needed. It’s a good thing we see a lot of each here, right?"

I did my best to maintain a firm stance as I watched her leave. Only when the door closed did I lean against the dresser, clenching the wood tightly.

Why did I hesitate?

I took slow, measured breaths because that was the only way I could still my racing heartbeat that had picked up ever since she asked if I had fallen for Zade.

I couldn’t have. There was no fucking way. There is no chance in hell I could ever love him.

I get that I have been stuck in turmoil, conflicts, and the idea of truth has never been the same since the hunt.

There was this dominant feeling inside me, I couldn’t tell what it was, but I could feel it. The reason why there was an unwanted pull, the need whenever I was close with Zade... it was bizarrely familiar and kept giving me freakish chills.

No matter how much I tried to fight it, I’m always right back where I started. I mean, that’s gotta explain it, right? Why it felt familiar. I was running in circles with him.

I have to hate Zade and get my revenge. I won’t let these twisted, unwanted feelings that made no sense, get in the way of that.

I dipped my hand into my bag, swiping to unlock. I tapped against the message icon and opened the message Caleb had left me this morning.

Caleb: I found the diary. Meet me in the library in two days.

A shaky breath escaped me, my body trembling even though I felt no cold.

I have waited for this moment, but the need for it had dispelled when I confronted Zade. I should have told Caleb not to look for it anymore.

What am I gonna do now?

A part of me wants to get down to business and finally connect with my sister again, but another part of me is terrified of the outcome.