“Yes.” He started walking, still holding her hand. “Otherwise, why would we be here?”
That was a good question. “Have you told anybody about this place?” she asked, watching the pink sand cover her bare feet.
“No. Grown-ups wouldn’t understand.” His hand was a lot bigger than hers.
She nodded. “I know. I don’t want them to make us stop coming here.” If they could. She wasn’t sure. Either way, she didn’t want to worry her mama.
Something jostled her. “I hafta go. Bye.”
She woke up, and Pax was shaking her. She smacked him in the chin. “Stop it.”
His eyes were more silver than blue in the soft light. “No. You can’t meet that Kurjan anymore. It’s not safe, and you know it.”
“How did you know I was meeting him?” she asked, rubbing her nose.
“I just do,” Pax said quietly. “When you’re asleep, I can feel an energy.”
She blew hair out of her eyes. Right now, she lived in two worlds, and they both called to her. “You don’t understand,” she said.
His eyes were sadder than usual. “I know, but I can’t let you get hurt. You and Libby are all I have, Hope.”
That wasn’t true. He had a daddy and other friends and the whole Realm. But she took his hand, surprised to find that it was bigger than Drake’s even though he wasn’t tall. “I don’t understand it yet, but you and me and Libby have a job to do someday,” she whispered. And Drake. He was a part of it, too. “We’ll save everybody. Trust me, Paxton. I’m gonna be safe.”
Pax snuggled back down, keeping her hand. “I do trust you.” His eyes flashed blue through the silver. “I think that’s my job.” He closed his eyes and was asleep in a minute.
His job? What did that mean?
Chapter 30
There were two bedrooms in the guesthouse Logan led Mercy to after a wonderful dinner with his family. It was fascinating to watch him with his niece, and by the time he locked the doors of the guesthouse, Mercy had almost forgotten her irritation with him.
Almost.
He set an alarm, punching in a code he blocked with his body. Then he turned. “I need a shower. Just a reminder—you’re in the middle of Realm headquarters territory.”
Yeah, she’d figured that out, even though she had no clue where they were. Somewhere in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, if she had to guess. “I know.”
He ignored her snappy voice. “Every door and window is wired. If you open even one, sensors will go wild all over the subdivision. Lights will flash, and the loudest sound you can imagine will blare from the center of the kitchen. Soldiers will come running from every direction, but I’ll get to you before they do.” He paused, meeting her gaze directly. “You do not want that.”
Her mouth gaped open. He’d been a bossy jackwad with her, and then he’d been unbelievably adorable with his family, and now he was being an uptight jerk?
She just glared.
He nodded. “We’ll talk when I get out.” He paused in the midst of turning. “Unless you’d like to join me. You’re more than welcome.” Pivoting, he headed inside what appeared to be the master bedroom.
She crossed her arms, looking over the comfortable room with the sliding glass door leading to the lake. It would serve him right if she triggered the alarm with him buckass naked. The place was very nice, though. Why wasn’t he staying with his family?
Oh. Because of her. Because the Realm knew the Fae had plans for Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood. Yeah. She wouldn’t let a Fae stay in the same house as Hope, either.
The sound of the shower filtered through the irritation in her head. All right. So he was ticked she’d told the king everything she had. Or maybe he was just fed up with the whole situation. She could understand that. Her people had made a big mess of things for his family.
A tingle wound through her left arm.
She caught her breath, stretching out her arm, fluttering her fingers. Another tingle. Energy bubbled inside her, slowly, like a soda being shaken up.
Her head went back, and she breathed deep, letting the universe fill her. She imagined her apartment in Scotland and tried to gather the energy to teleport. Sparks flew along her arm and then sputtered out. She sighed. The ability was coming back, though. Soon she’d be able to go.
Triumph and an odd sadness filtered through her. Once she left, she and Logan would be on opposite sides again. Her people were determined to stop his ritual, because it was the right thing to do. Without question, she cared about him. But she couldn’t let the universe be torn apart—not again. Even if he was right that the Kurjans would figure out a way to release Ulric, her people had time to stop them. Hopefully.
