“He—he’s awake? How is he?” Isla’s tone was a mix of excitement and worry.
A small smile broke across Bri’s face. “He’s good. Really good. But the healer said he still needs to rest for a few days.” Lines of puzzlement creased the girl’s brow. “So I don’t think they would just leave.”
“We think they’ve been taken,” Isla whispered.
“What? Why?”
Isla’s eyes found Kai, who bit the inside of her cheek and discreetly shook her head. It wasn’t smart to bring another human into this. They needed to leave soon and get back to Aataran.
Directing her attention back to Bri, Isla said, “We’re going to figure it out. I can fix this.” Kai watched her take a deep breath. “I can’t stay, Bri. I have to—I need to go if I want to get them back.”
To Kai’s surprise, Bri scoffed. “Oh no, you’re not. You’ve been gone for three weeks, Isla. You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you leave again! Do you know what Arden and I went through after you disappeared in the middle of the night? And then we didn’t hear anything fordays. I thought you were dead!” Her voice raised. “And now you come back here—I mean, obviously I’m glad to see you—with some stranger and say you’re leaving again? Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”
Isla rubbed at the back of her neck, scrunching her nose before letting out a deep breath. “You just…need to trust me, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Over my dead body.”
Isla groaned. “Bri, come on. Don’t do this. I can’t explain it, but I’ll be…safe.”
Kai raised an eyebrow.Very convincing.
To Kai’s surprise, Bri shrugged and took a step back. “Alright.”
Isla blinked rapidly. “Al—alright? You’re okay with me leaving?”
“Sure.” Bri crossed her arms. “Because I’m going with you.”
“Okay, that’s enough of that.” Kai broke her silence and stepped forward to Isla, facing Bri. “Hello, I’m Kai. Nice to meet you. But Isla and I need to go. And unfortunately, this is not the best trip to bring guests on.” Kai internally cringed. She sounded like Jade, but it was for the human’s own good.
“Well, that’s too bad. I guess you shouldn’t have kidnapped my friend,” Bri said, cocking her head.
“We did not—”
“It wasn’t her—”
Bri held up her hand to silence both Kai and Isla. Kai snapped her mouth shut, stunned momentarily by the gall of this girl.
She and Aidan would get along swimmingly.
“I don’t want to hear it. If Isla’s going, I’m going.”
Kai pursed her lips. “It’s not safe for you.”
“If it’s not safe for me, then it’s not safe for Isla,” Bri said matter-of-factly.
Well, she had a point.
Isla chewed on her fingernail as if she were considering her friend’s request. Grabbing her softly by the arm, Kai said, “I understand this is difficult, but we need to leavenow. Bringing your friend will only complicate things. Think about her safety.”
The idea of keeping Bri out of harm’s way seemed to click Isla’s resolve into place. She gave a swift nod of her head, and Bri began shaking hers in denial, her assertive stance quickly disintegrating.
“No no no, you’re not leaving me again! Either stay here or take me with you,” Bri pleaded, and although Kai had just met her, she could tell the desperation in her tone came unnaturally to the young woman.
“Bri, Ican’t. You have to trust me—”
“It’s not you I don’t trust.” She flashed a look at Kai. “What if something happens to you?Again? This isn’t like you, Isla—what’s so terrible that you can’t tell me?”
Isla put her hands on Bri’s shoulders. “I’m going to get Papa and Arden back, alright? I’ll tell you everything when we get home.” Her voice was tight and controlled, holding back the pain Kai knew was under the surface.
