evil from their souls," Nellie added with a chuckle.
"Sometimes I wonder how I survived that place at all,” I said. “But then I think about everything I've gone through since and wonder if the sisters being the way they were really did prepare me for what the world was like."
Nellie was quiet for a long moment before she leaned her head against my shoulder and said, "Maybe. It wasn't like they knew what you were, though. Both of our lives have changed. In fact, they both changed the night the castle showed up. Yours may have changed faster, but I think I’m catching up." I squeezed her shoulder. "Both of our lives have morphed into something terrifying and dangerous, but it's an adventure I don't think either of us would change. What the nuns did for us was prepare us for change. Each day is something new, something that tests us and who we are at the core of our beings. Something that helps shape us into who we are going to be. We can let it grind us down or we can rise up and fight against it.
"It doesn't matter if it's something to do with the Fae or with the humans, we have to treat it all the same so we can show them that they are equals. You and I might understand how similar Fae and humans are, but from their perspectives, they are polar opposites. If we lead by example then maybe they will catch on. It means we can’t let any of it break us, though. We have to be strong for each other and for the people we represent."
"That was quite the speech, young lady,” I said, nudging her with my elbow. “Sister Eleanor would be proud. She always knew you were smarter than me, which is completely unfair, I might add," I teased. “I’m the older one here. I should be the wise one.”
Nellie pulled away from me and turned to face me. "It's not just you and me, Cress."
"What do you mean?"
"There's … someone I've come to care for.” Her words were quiet but said with conviction. There’s a sharpness, a force in her tone I’ve never really heard before. “He's been my rock through everything. As much as the Princes care for you, they don't really think about me, and when they told me that you'd been taken, I fell apart. If Ash hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened. As much as I wanted to believe them, to have faith that they would get you back, the three of them against the King and his army seemed impossible.
“I've never been so scared, but Ash was there through all of it. He helped me stay strong. He's so sweet and caring and smart. Not to mention he has a wicked sense of humor. The best part, though?" She sighed and seemed to prepare herself for something. "Cress, he knows I'm human, but he doesn't care.”
“Wait, he’s Fae?” Of course he was Fae, I already knew exactly who she was talking about. I recalled seeing him in Groffet’s library. I shook my head.
Nellie licked her bottom lip before continuing. “He's kind and understanding and strong, Cress. I thought he would be like all of the humans are towards Fae—angry and scared and hateful, but he’s not. I think … I think I love him and that he returns my feelings.”
My heart squeezed tight inside my chest. “Wow.” It was all I could manage. The only word that I was able to slip out because I was still frozen in a state of pure surprise.
“Are you upset?” she asked hesitantly.
“What? No!” I jumped forward and snatched her hands up once more. “No, of course not, I’m glad you’ve found someone. I’m happy for you, really. I’m—okay, truthfully. I’m a little jealous that this has been going on, but I’ve been so mixed up with the Princes and the Court of Frost and then the near execution—”
“It’s not your fault,” she said, stopping me with a laugh. “I understand why you haven’t been around.”
“What I’m trying to say,” I began again, feeling a burn at the back of my eyes, “is that if you love him then I’m happy and he’s stupid if he doesn’t love you back.”
"Are you tearing up?" she asked.
"Me? No," I lied. I cleared my throat. "You’ll have to officially introduce me to him so I can give him the appropriate warnings and whatnot."