“Did you get the medicine?” I asked. “For Eloise? And the thing I requested for Poppy?”
“Of course. All I need is you.”
I gestured behind me. “Do you understand now why I care so deeply about being free? More than anything, Silas, I need to be myself.”
One of the guards reached for my leg with his good arm. Another bone cracked. Another wail of pain.
In answer to my question, Silas reached behind me and tugged the binder holding my hair out and let it drop to the floor. He ran a hand through my untamed locks, letting them waterfall down my shoulders.
“Be as wild as you like, Alessia.” Silas watched me with guarded appreciation. “I’ve only ever wanted you to beyou.”
I swallowed hard. Nodded.
“Are you ready?” Silas extended an arm. When I nodded again, he tucked me to his side. “Let’s go.”
The tugging motion returned, and we hurtled through the air, away from New York—away from my family. Away from captivity and real life and broken engagements and stifling homes and emptiness.
Toward light and love and belonging and meaning.
We were free at last. A sense of jubilation bubbled in my gut. I’d finally found my place on this earth. No more doubts, no more uncertainty.
Until something went wrong.
Mid-journey, I felt the jolt like a record scratch. A swirl of colors, a mix of sounds—a cacophony of terror.Wrong, wrong, wrong.We were mid-journey back to The Isle, but something wasn’t right.
A jolt, and then Silas was ripped from my side. The feeling of loss hit me like a wave, enveloping me completely.
“Silas!” I shrieked, but my words were sucked into an abyss. I couldn’t yell, couldn’t vocalize my fear—and the next thing I knew, I tumbled to the ground, scraping knees and elbows as I hurtled into a wall of solid rock.
Literally, lots of rocks.
I’d landed right outside of Wisteria Cottage, pummeling into the rock wall like a UFO knocked out of the sky prematurely. Somehow, Silas had undershot our destination, and I’d slammed into the protective wall.
I stood up, looked around. I sensed Millie rushing toward me, but I was too distracted to look at her as I studied my surroundings.
“Silas!” I shouted, but I already knew my answer, even before I saw Millie’s worried face.
He was gone.
Chapter 11
Hot, sticky blood drippeddown my forehead. I tasted metal, felt the warmth trickle over my lips.
“Millie.” My voice was strained. “Where is he?”
“Mr. Silas didn’t make it back with you.” Millie clutched her apron, glancing around me as if hoping Silas might pop out of the bushes like some prank. “Fates be damned.”
“What does this mean?” I asked. “Where could he be? He was by my side the whole time, transporting me home, until something went wrong.”
Millie unwrapped the apron from around her waist. I leaned against the stone wall because my legs were trembling too much to stay upright alone.
I was weak and queasy from the paranormal travel. My bones had been rattled by my catapult into the rock wall. Dust was still settling around me from where several stones had toppled to the ground.
With sadness in her eyes, Millie quietly wrapped her apron around her hand and raised it to my forehead. She put pressure on the gash there.
“What happened to him?” I asked. “It felt like someone yanked Silas away from me. The next thing I knew, I crashed into this wall.” I waved my hand as if to say,andhere I am without him.
“Mr. Silas must have been intercepted.” Millie pressed tighter. “Pixie dust is very volatile at best. Things can happen.”
