Tilly POV
I dropped my muffin.
Watching Boy and Cora-James on the riverbank felt... strange. I didn't like the feeling in my stomach. I didn't know what it was. It was heavy. Sharp. Wrong.
So I ran.
I ran back to the castle. I was still hungry. I found the leftover drumstick from earlier and sat down near the door, devouring it in hungry bites.
I thought of Boy. I wanted to see him again. Maybe he would have more muffins and apples for me. Maybe he would let me touch him the way Cora-James did.
A sound behind me made me jump. I stood up and fled back to the room.
I burst through the door.
Cora-James was waiting for me. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She smiled when she saw me. It was a soft smile. Kind. Concerned.
"There you are," she said. Her voice was nice. Calm. "I was so worried when I came in and you were gone."
She patted the bed before turning to me.
"I didn't know you woke up," she paused. "When did you wake up?"
