chapter 16

Everly All night, I can't sleep. Valen won't answer any of my texts and shoves me out whenever I try to mind-link him. His silence is driving me insane, and I’m worried about Valarian. He sounded upset on the phone and wanted to come home, but I managed to calm him down enough and told him I would pick him up from school. Valen didn't object, so I figure he’s okay with that, or at least I hope he is. Throughout the night, I obsess over the horrible shit that was portrayed on the news, saying Valen and I were fighting because he was cheating on me, that he finally realized Valarian isn't his son. It’s all bullshit. I know it, they know it, but they will do whatever they can to sell a story. The bed feels too big without Valen in it—cold and empty—the house too quiet without him snoring beside me and making me want to smother him while he sleeps. Many times I get up and check the locks and windows and check Valarian's bed. That was something Zoe and I both did when we lived together, alm