“I cannot. I must stay.”
Ranth wasn’t anywhere I could see. When I turned back to my mother, she was gone.
“Mom? Ranth?” I ran into the trees.
“She is gone, Sorrel.” It was Ranth’s voice, but he wasn’t there.
I stopped. “Where are you!” I screamed.
You promised me.
I bent over sucking in breaths. I had to go; I was literally dying. People waiting for me. People I loved and couldn’t abandon.
Mom was gone forever, and I had to go back. But I didn’t want to leave Ranth.
“This time, things are beyond your choice. You cannot stay here. You do not belong here. But when you look to the stars, remember you will always shine in my heart.”
Ranth’s words echoed in the distance.
“Noooo. I don’t want to leave you!” I ran into the trees, desperate to find him as the light began to fade.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
My cheek rested on something cool and hard, like stone. I flung an arm over my eyes to shade them from a blinding light. Shouts muddled with my thoughts, and I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the words. Gentle hands pulled me up and then into an embrace. Roses swirled around me, then jasmine, and coriander as more arms wrapped my shoulders and torso.
“Sorrel.” The word rolled off multiple tongues as I fought to understand what was going on. Rose was hugging me. Ori was crying on my shoulder; Freddie had his arms around my waist. Lights of red and blue flashed over us like a rave. A few feet away, Juke was talking to someone in a dark uniform. The sunhad set, but a glaring spotlight shone where we stood. Another light to the left outlined more shadowy figures.
Fabra. Police. I was alive. I was back.
Hugging Rose back, I glanced at my arm. The curse words illuminated with a golden light. I was back, and I was cursed again. I extracted myself from everyone’s arms as their questions began. “What happened? Where did you go? Where’s Ranth?”
I wasn’t ready to explain because what I would say wouldn’t make sense.
“Ranth is gone.” The ache echoed in my bones, and I crossed my arms as the loss gnawed.
Ori’s arm slid around me. “I’m so glad you’re back.” She nestled her head on my shoulder. Tears dripped down my cheeks as I enfolded her, skimming over my muddled thoughts. The Garden hadn’t accepted Ranth. Why hadn’t he come back with me?
An officer walked over to us. “Which one of you is Miss Redwood?”
I stepped back from Ori and shielded my eyes to get a better look at the policewoman.
“I am,” I replied, drying my eyes as she approached us.
“I have a few questions if you don’t mind?”
I did mind, and nothing would make sense to the police. Bud had always said to call his lawyer first.
“Am I under arrest?”
“No. I’d just like to know some details about what happened here.”
“If you want to ask me questions, I need a lawyer, and I’d like my stepdad present.”
She tugged out her notebook. “Who is your stepfather?”
“Bud Leaf, like the plant,” I replied, giving Bud’s cell phone number. That would buy me a few hours before I had to comeup with a reason for the tent, the mess in the warehouse if they knew about it, and why Fabra and her goons were here with tranquilizer guns. Not that, at the moment, any of it could be tied to me. This was private property, so technically it would be Juke’s dad who would have to cover for us. He was super cool, and as long as we fixed the damage, I was pretty sure we’d be good to go.
I stroked the tattoo as the officer wrote down information. “I think we have all we need, but if I want to follow up, could I have a local number?”
