I couldn’t even keep my ownname? But yet, it felt like a worthy sacrifice. I’d cut my heart out if it meant rescuing Charlie from this fate.
I hesitated a moment too long, and Marcus said, “Ava, this is the only way. If you want to save Charlie, we gotta do this now.”
I jumped to my feet. I couldn’t dawdle with the situation any longer. If I took any more time to think about it, I’d lose my nerve.
We had to find him. For all we knew, the Warden had taken him away by now. “Let’s go. Grab those law books.”
Marcus, Oberi and I charged down the hallway at a full-on sprint. We checked his room, but he wasn’t in there. I began searching the hallways for Charlie, begging the ancestors that he hadn’t been found yet.
“Hey!” Naya said nastily as I pushed her out of the way. She sprawled onto the floor, but I didn’t stop to apologize. Screw her. Charlie’s life was on the line.
Out of the way! Oberi snarled, and he snapped at the heels of a merman.Wedding bells are ringing!
“Do you have to put it like that?” I grumbled.
Well, I can’t say I didn’t imagine this moment differently, but at least it’s happening, Oberi pointed out.
No shit. I’d never really put much thought into getting married. I’d had the normal daydreams most girls did, about what dress I’d pick, how it would feel when my father walked me down the aisle, what song we’d choose for our first dance, and the bliss I’d experience on my honeymoon.
I’d get none of that here. This wasn’t how I wanted to get married. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted thisat all.The thought of binding myself permanently to anyone, no matter how much I loved them, made me afraid of the future. I loved my independence, and my freedom. I wanted to keep it.
But I wanted Charlie far more, and his life was worth any sacrifice I had to make.
“Where’s Charlie?” I burst when I found Ivy and Chancey sitting in the cafeteria. I’d checked everywhere, and hadn’t found him.
“I told him to hide out at The Devil’s Playground,” Ivy said. “They’d have a hard time locating him there.”
Thank the ancestors for Ivy. I didn’t stop to explain, just ran off. Chancey and Ivy followed us without having to be told what was up. I rushed to The Devil’s Playground and flung the door open.
I didn’t relax until I saw Charlie sitting on the floor, his back against the stage. He was safe. We could still pull this off.
A wolfish growl came from the corner, one that died when Kallie recognized who we were. She transformed from her wolf form back onto two legs. Kallie had been waiting there all night with him. Charlie could stop me from trying to protect him, but he couldn’t stop her. She was a loyal friend.
Charlie jumped to his feet when he heard us coming. His form went rigid, but I called out, “It’s us!”
The obvious fear on his face turned to rage when he heard my voice. “Pidge, why are you here?” he asked angrily. “I told you to stay out of it!”
“Never mind that.”Here it fucking goes.I had imagined that this moment would be more romantic, but as I stopped in front of Charlie and looked up at him, my knees turned to water and my stomach flip-flopped inside of me. I was either going to be sick or fall into his arms, one or the other. I was brave, but this felt scarier than anything I’d ever done. I was glad he couldn’t see me, for I was sure if we locked eyes, I would lose my courage.
“Well?” he fumed. “What is it?”
I took a deep breath. I tried not to let my voice waver as I said, “Marry me.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
CHARLIE
“Marry—” I practically choked. Ava couldn’t be serious. “Pidge, what is this? A joke?”
It was cruel. I had hours at most before I was dragged off to the Infernal Underground and experimented on, and Ava was trying to befunny.
“Ugh, I’m sorry. Let me try again,” Ava said. She squeezed my hands, and I felt her lower herself to the ground. Was she…getting on one knee?“Charlie Wahkin, will you marry me?”
I scowled and yanked on her arms. “Pidge, stop it. Stand up.”
“I’m serious!” she insisted.
My heart stopped. No, she couldn’t be. We weren’t even dating.
