Before I can speak again., she raises a hand, and the world around me dissolves. The waterfalls, the island, the cave—all of it fades into a swirl of blue light and I feel myself being pulled away, back to the waking world.
I jolt forward in bed. The cottage is still and silent, except for a strange noise coming from the next room. My heart skips, and I instinctively reach for one of the small daggers I’d discovered in the bedside drawer the night before. Edging toward the sound, every nerve alert, I strain to identify it—soft, repetitive. Wait, is that... snoring?
I creep toward the doorway, pausing to peek inside. A soft laugh escapes me when I spot Theo—sprawled out on the couch, one arm dangling off the side, his boots half off, and snoring lightly. The sight of him, so carefree and familiar, makes something inside me shift, a mix of emotions rushing up like a tide. For a moment, I just stand there, taking him in.
Theo stirs, mumbling something incoherent before his eyes flutter open, blinking at me groggily. He squints, then cracks a grin. “Well, you know, I was hoping you’d at least make it another hour or two before I had to come back and rescue you.”
I smirk, crossing the room and sinking onto the couch beside him. “Couldn’t wait any longer, huh?”
He chuckles, rubbing his eyes. “I was worried about bears.” His voice was thick with sleep but laced with amusement.
I rest my head against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his presence settle into me. “Thanks for this. “You really are the best.”
“Of course I am.” He chuckles softly, then adds, “Did you get what you needed?”
I nod, a small sigh escaping me. “Yeah, I did.”
A question hovers on my tongue, the familiar ache creeping back in. I can’t stop myself, even though part of me wishes I could. “Is Cal okay?”
Theo grins his eyes narrowing in mock disbelief. “Geez, Eva. You find out the guy’s been keeping secrets, and you’re worried about him?” He lets out a low laugh. “You really do have it bad.”
I roll my eyes. “I waited three whole days before asking.”
“Only because I wasn’t here,” he teases, poking me lightly. “But yeah, he’s fine. Locked himself in his townhouse, though. Won’t even let Izzy in. Dramatic as always.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What, he didn’t just let you off the hook that easy?”
Theo grins, a little rueful. “Oh, he demanded to know where you were. Looked all over for you—got real mad when I wouldn’t tell him. Threatened me if anything were to happen to you...” He shakes his head, his grin turning into something more thoughtful. “He is out of his mind, Eva.”
The playful banter fades as Theo’s expression grows more serious. “Are you ready to talk about it yet?”
I shrug, staring at the wall. “I don’t even know what to say. I want to forgive him, I really do. But what he did…” My voice falters. “He’s no better than Garet, Theo. I thought he, of all people, would understand that I can handle myself.”
“Cal isn’t the only one who realizes that. Trust me, half the guards back at the barracks are terrified you’d kick their asses.” He grins, then grows thoughtful. “But have you thought about why he kept it from you? Maybe he wasn’t trying to keep you in the dark just to keep you out—maybe he was trying to protect you from something.”
“What do you mean?” The words slip out, but I already feel the tug of doubt. Could there be more to his decision than just a lack of trust?
“What if he thought he was wrong? What if he told you something that turned out to be a mistake?” Theo leans forward, his gaze earnest. “Cal’s stubborn, but he’s got his reasons.”
I bite my lip, contemplating his words. Could it be true? Was Cal holding back not because he didn’t trust me, but because he thought he was protecting me? The flicker of doubt grows, making me question if I’ve missed something in my hurt. Still, his secrecy feels like a choice he made for me, not with me.
“What would you do if you were me?” I finally ask.
Theo snorts. “Honestly? Probably give him the Garet treatment first. But after that... I’d hear him out. I know Cal. He’s a stubborn idiot, but he always has the best intentions.”
I know Theo’s right; Cal isn’t careless. Despite the anger and betrayal, he wouldn’t have done this if he hadn’t believed, somehow, that it was the right thing. Even now, I can’t forget the way he looks at me, the way he challenges me, pushes me to be more than I am. Even now, that feeling of inevitability lingers, the sense that every step I’ve taken with him has been leading me somewhere I’m meant to be.
Theo breaks the silence, his tone gentler. “Do you love him?”
I replay all we’ve been through—from seeing him at the gate, to coming to Coire, discovering the real him, finding the real me, and our first kiss in Pinebrook. It’s all felt so right. Every moment with Cal has felt like a piece of a puzzle clicking intoplace.
In that moment, two things become clear to me. One, I am hopelessly in love with Callon. It’s awe and terror wrapped into one, crashing over me like a wave I can’t escape. I’ve never been in love before—not like this. Not this raw, consuming pull that tears down every carefully built wall, every defense I thought I could hide behind.
Two, I have become stronger than I ever realized. Not just from fighting, not just from surviving, but from letting myself feel—from letting someone in and trusting them to see the broken pieces and still choose to stay.
“Yes.” I sit up, a sense of resolve and hope welling up inside me.
Theo smiles, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Then go hear him out.”
