“No, we wanted this. It was only dragged on by other things,” Deirdre replied flatly. The only thing that really bugged her was that she had misunderstood Brendan, but her feelings about him did not change. “We don’t like each other.”

“Huh? Okay…” Glenna was baffled, but she respected it enough. “So… you’re going to leave with Brendan later?”

“Yes, but I’ll be back soon.”

“In that case, I’m taking you to the ward first.”

Before she could even do what she said she would, Brendan emerged from the door in a coat. His face was sallow and sickly—it was clear just how ill he had become. He kept coughing, and his eyes were bloodshot. When he saw Deirdre, his eyes widened a little.

Then, a look of mockery shadowed his face. “Time to go, Sam,” he ordered the guard next to him and ignored Deirdre altogether. He brushed past her.

Deirdre shuddered. Glenna held her hand. “Dee?”

“It’s okay.” This was well within her expectations, so she was not that shaken up either. “Thanks for bringing me