There are a lot of things on my mind, like a lot, but Alec's silence as we eat is not helping matters at all.

“Alec" I start. He looks up from his food, giving me one look that says, ‘I'm not talking to you’. The fact that he didn't even bother with a fake smile tells me everything I need to know. Still, I press on. "I need to go back to Astrid," I think that does something because he snaps his head over to me so fast he nearly gets whiplash.

”Why?!” he demands. His voice is harsh and rough. "You can't!" he practically shouts. I stay silent for...