"I want to go back to my parents."
Cadence froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. The casual tone in which she'd said it didn't fool him. Slowly, he set the fork down on the plate and turned his gaze toward her.
"No," he said simply.
"Why not?" Melanie pressed, keeping her voice as steady as she could even as her hands clenched under the table. "All I'm asking is that you let me go back to them. I don't want to be imprisoned here. Even if it's just for a short visit… even if you let me go back and see them just once- You cannot seriously be jealous of my parents."
"They'll keep you away from me and..." His tone hadn't changed, but there was something darker beneath it. As if he already knew this for sure. She could already hear the finality in his voice before he even finished the sentence. "I cannot. I will not let you go this time, Melody. Last time letting you go was enough. I agreed, then, didn't I? But not this time!"
