Chapter 50: A Beautiful Resource

Nolan shook his head and said, “I don’t know how you could. My father said he would only keep me here for one day, but…”

“But what?”

Nolan sighed. “He’s been known to say things he does not mean.”

“I don’t understand. You didn’t even touch Adan. Why would your father think this was necessary?”

Yena gestured around at the tower, the little jail cell, the silver bars.

“My father seems to think that I am… unstable,” Nolan said, still pacing. “Adan must have convinced him, after baiting me into that trap, that I can’t be trusted.”

He heard Yena whimper quietly. He stopped pacing and went to face her through the bars.

Her mouth was a thin line, and tears were pooling in her eyes.

“It’s going to be okay,” Nolan said. It was the first thing he could think of to say.

“No,” she said, “it’s not. And it’s all my fault.”

“This is not your fault, Yena.”

“It is,” she pleaded, falling into a heavy sob. “I’m so sorry. I should h