Chapter 4

Jasmine found out about the tiara soon enough.

Three days later, at a top-tier equestrian ground on the edge of the city. It was a gathering thrown by one of the second-generation crowd. Reuben had been held up by an elder and would arrive late.

I hadn't wanted to come, but there were a few asset-transfer contracts that had to be signed here in person.

I'd barely finished signing when Jasmine came over with a group behind her, dressed in fiery red riding gear, a crop in her hand.

"I hear Bianca used to train specially in riding, just so she could keep Reuben company."

She raised her voice and pointed toward the fiercest, blackest stallion in the ring.

"Do you dare try Blackwind? Or is it that, without Reuben, you don't even have that much nerve left?"

The second-gen crowd started egging me on. I'd fallen out of favor, so of course I'd become the little amusement they used to please her.

I took the helmet. This body was shaking.

It remembered why the original had learned to ride at all. Because he'd once said, "You look beautiful on a horse."

The swing up into the saddle was clean and sure. Blackwind was steady enough at first.

But as I passed the edge of the stands, a blinding light suddenly struck the horse in the eyes.

The light came from the direction behind Jasmine.

Blackwind screamed, front hooves rearing up, and bolted straight for the railing.

Wind roared past my ears. I hauled on the reins with everything I had, but my center of gravity was gone.

Just then, Reuben's car pulled into the grounds.

"Bianca!" he shouted, his eyes splitting wide.

In that instant, I heard this body calling his name inside.

Once, then again. Everything the original had hoped for over five years was crushed into that single cry.

But just as he was about to rush over, Jasmine screamed on the stands, clutched her chest, and collapsed.

"Reuben... I can't breathe..."

Her panic attack had struck.

Reuben's steps stopped dead.

He looked at me swaying on the horse's back, then looked at her lying on the ground.

He hesitated less than a second.

Then he turned and ran for the stands, pulling Jasmine tight against him.

"Jasmine! Deep breaths, don't be scared, I'm here!"

I watched that back, and the heart that had been aching in my chest all this time suddenly went quiet.

The answer the original had waited five years for was given in full in that one second.

To keep from being trampled by the hooves, I let go of the reins and threw myself off the horse's back.

My body slammed into the sand, and there was a crisp snap of bone from my arm.

I lay there covered in mud and blood, even my breath tasting of it.

Only after the medics lifted me onto the stretcher, once Reuben had made sure Jasmine was fine, did he turn his head.

He rushed over, his face bloodless.

"Bianca..." His hand hung in the air, not daring to touch me.

I didn't cry, and I didn't ask him why he'd saved someone else first.

I only looked at him, utterly calm.

"Reuben, we're square now. From now on, don't come looking for me again."

As I said it, a single tear slid from the corner of my eye into my hair.

That was the original's last one.

From this second on, there was nothing left in this body that loved him.