Leigh, I know things are hard right now, and I can’t imagine what you’re going through. But I want you to know I’m always here for you. No matter what happens or what anyone says. Talk to me . . .
I pause, my thumb hovering over the send button. Is it enough? Will my words bring her comfort or add more fuel to the fire? I hesitate, doubt creeping in like a fucking jewelry thief.
Without hitting send, I close my eyes, setting my phone aside. I could wait and give her space to process the news about Fynn. But I want to give Stellan an answer soon. Now that he’s publicly announced his intentions to turn Aurora into its own country, we need to act fast to keep things civil. I need to convince Leigh to trust him, even though she trusts no one, not even me.
“Hey,” a soft voice says beside me.
Nearly jumping out of my skin, I find Leigh perched on the corner of my bed, staring at me.
“What a day, huh?” she asks.
“What the fuck. You’rehere?” My heart nearly bursts as I lunge to hug her, only to fall right through her and smack my face on the fucking floor.
Leigh stands with one hand covering her mouth as she barely stifles a laugh.
“What the hell?” I ask, and she smiles. It’s the best thing I’ve seen all day. Warm and radiant like her.
“I’m here, but not really here,” she says.
“Am I dreaming?” I ask as I rub my bruised forehead like it could ease my bruised ego.
Leigh’s been through hell, and the first thing I do is tackle her. I’m such an idiot.
“No. I am astral projecting.”
Well, fuck me. I know she’s done it before, but I didn’t know she could do it again.
“How?”
Leigh shakes her head. “No time for questions. I am unsure how long this is going to last.”
“You are here because you saw the news. The Council has cleared me, but in case you had any lingering doubts, I promise, Leigh, I didn’t save Stellan because I’ve turned my back on you. I?—”
“Wilder, I believe you, but Stellan needs to be stopped.”
I blink.“Those are menacing words for a queen whose entire regime is based on peace.”
Leigh grunts. “He started it.”
“The article. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, I don’t want to talk about Stellan at all. I don’t want to talk.” Leigh paces before me, her body reminding me of a hologram. Real-looking, but not.
I push myself off the floor. “Well, considering I can’t touch you, we have nothing to do but talk.”
She groans. “Did you talk to Stellan? Did he tell you where he got his information today?”
“No.”
“Did he tell you anything?”
I sigh. “Come to Aurora and ask him yourself.”
Leigh stares at me. “What?”
“Stellan’s agreed to meet with you. I am sure you heard the news about wanting to annex Aurora into an enclave?” I say, earning a nod from Leigh. “Well, I convinced him to speak to you. A conclave, if you will. A chance for the two of you to air your grievances and get on the same page. You want the same thing: justice for the Nebula, a new world founded on peace andunderstanding. I think you two could work together to unite the factions.”
Leigh taps her lips with her forefinger. “Hmm. I am willing to meet with him if he takes the article down about Fynn.”
