"What are you saying?" I asked, tears threatening to clog in my throat. "Did the dark mages make you kiss me? Make you pretend you liked me?"

"No." Jasper shook his head, pulling me into his embrace. "That was the only real thing."

My hands flattened against his chest. His legs hung over the bed, but he was still wearing his school uniform even though it was covered in grass stains and dirt. Then he kissed me. Right there in front of Kento and Reed. I was frozen and ...