Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“He’s already here,” I whisper. “It’s already happening.”
“You are here. He doesn’t have control.” He takes my hand and skims his thumb across my knuckles. “You feel that?”
I nod jerkily.
“You’re here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“What if he had gotten to Brie?” I shake my head. “I can’t risk her, Kendrick. I need to leave. I need to get out of this palace before . . .” My bottom lip trembles. I can’t even say it.
“We can pack our bags and leave right now if that’s what you want.”
My throat bobs as I swallow. “Really?”
He smirks and I’m treated to the flash of a single dimple. “We were going to leave in the morning anyway. I don’t mind moving it up a little.” He squeezes my hand, and I realize he never let go.
That’s what it’s always been like between us. Me spiraling and Kendrick holding on. I want to be around long enough to be the one who holds on when he needs it. I will find a way out of this bargain. I have to. “I’m sorry.”
I know he doesn’t understand what I mean, but I don’t have the strength or focus to explain.
“Enough boo-hooing,” Skylar says from behind Kendrick. I don’t know how long she’s been standing there. “We’ve got a long day ahead of us if we’re going to go to Elora tonight. We don’t have time for that.”
Kendrick stands and guides me to follow. “We’ll go tell your sister and then get packed.”
Find the witch and make a new deal. Everybody wants something. We will find out what she wants and give it to her. We can do this.
When I shift my focus off all the unknowns and concentrate on my next step, my pulse steadies and my breathing slows, so that’s what I’ll do.
“You’re sure you wouldn’t rather go by goblin?” Abriella asks. The portal to the Unseelie Hall of Doors is deep in the Goblin Mountains, near the River of Ice, and she insisted on coming this far with us. But unless she’s going to go to Elora with us, this is where we have to part ways.
She’s wearing her worried mother hen face, and for the first time in a long time I appreciate it for what it is. My sister has hovered and coddled and fussed over me for almost four years, but it’s the only way she knew to love me. She’s always been more mother to me than someone so young should ever have to be.
“We’re sure,” Kendrick says. I can’t help but think how odd he looks with the rounded ears of his human glamour now that I’ve gotten used to his fae appearance. They all took a potion from Natan before heading for the portal. Being fae in Elora is too dangerous. I always knew that, but it never struck me as sad when I didn’t know anyone personally affected.
“The Hall will dump you hours from Fairscape and you’ll have to get horses and find a place to stay.”
“We’ve got it covered,” Skylar says. “Don’t fuss. I promise we’ll take good care of your princess.”
“We have friends in the Handres territory of Elora,” Kendrick tells her, patiently giving her the explanation that she needs. “We’ll meet up with them tonight and head to Fairscape first thing tomorrow.”
She nods jerkily before turning to me. “You’ll be back before your birthday?”
“I . . .” I cut my gaze to Kendrick before looking back to her. “If we don’t find—”
“We’ll bring her back after we find the witch,” Kendrick says. There’s so much confidence in his voice, and I could curl into it like a hug. I wish I could hold the same assurance that he speaks with and believe that fixing this is a foregone conclusion.
“Come here,” I say, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around my sister. I feel her choked sob more than hear it, and I squeeze her a little tighter. “Thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. I know I was horrible and—”
“You weren’t.”
I scoff. “I was. And you deserved better. I want you to know that I—”
“Stop.” She shakes her head. “Don’t do this. We aren’t doing goodbye. This isn’t the end.”
I pull back to look at her. My fierce, beautiful sister who slayed a cruel and evil king for me. Now it’s my turn to find a way to slay him for her. I squeeze her shoulders. “I love you.”
Tears slide down her cheeks, leaving streaks on her porcelain skin. “I love you too.”
I want to hold on a little longer, but I make myself let go and turn to Kendrick.
“Ready?” he asks, extending a hand.
I nod and take it, and as we walk through I hear Brie behind us. “Take care of her, ple—” But then she’s cut off and we’re somewhere else. An expanse of dark night sky that seems to stretch on forever and makes me dizzy. There’s no floor, no ceiling, and no doors. Just mirrors on either side of us.