He knows, she told him
He kicked her out again.
“You’re absolutely right,” Cade said. He plastered a smirk on his face. “Invite the girls back. I know there’s a few I’d like to reunite with.”
With a wink, he popped a piece of fruit in his mouth.
The prince was back. Cassia just hoped he knew what he was doing.
Chapter thirteen
Bridget
“What are you doing?”
Bridget followed Stellan’s hurried movements as he grabbed a backpack and began stuffing random items, including a particularly dusty bottle of wine, inside. Every time she tried to jump in front of him, he dodged her. Until she read his movements and snatched up the book he was reaching for before he could grab it.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Stellan growled, swiping it from her hand. “I’m going back to Elyria.”
“You can’t.”
The words slipped out of Bridget’s mouth before she understood what they meant. He couldn’t go back. Not yet. Not untilshehad decided what to do. She wasn’t ready to face it all. Not the curse. Not the past. Not Vega… any of it. If he left now…
Stellan abruptly stopped in front of her. His hand on her wrist sent shivers up her spine. “Come with me.”
Bridget’s throat tightened.Couldshe go back to Elyria? Hadn’t he been warning her against it this entire time? Besides, for months, she’d beenconvincing herself that shedidn’twant to be in Elyria… that it was too dangerous, especially for Nylah. To go now felt like a betrayal of everything she’d been building for herself. But… She glanced at her sister, who watched them curiously from her stationed spot next to the unconscious Archer on the couch. Nylahneededto go.
Stellan dropped her arm. “Or stay and go back to Boston,” he said, blue eyes hardening. “Figure out another way to cross the gate. I don’t care. But I can’t be responsible for your fate anymore. Marin needs me.”
His words struck a chord in Bridget. It wasn’t aboutheranymore or a centuries-old curse... but the people who needed them.Thatwas worth any risk.
“What did you see?” Bridget asked, desperate to know what had rattled him enough to push him back to Elyria.
Ignoring her, Stellan zipped up his backpack and headed for the door. Seconds later, Nylah coughed, reminding her just what was at stake.
“Wait!” Bridget called, following him outside. “Just wait…” Stellan stopped in his tracks. He tightened his grip on his bag as she approached. “I have to go with you. Nylah needs the cure for that potion Alexia gave her.”
“I don’t have time to stop in Andarre first,” Stellan said. “Do you understand what that means?”
It meant seeing Cade, possibly married. It meant having to confront their past together before she’d comprehended herself. It meant walking back into the magical world that had almost destroyed her.
“Yes,” Bridget whispered. She really hoped going through the gate wasn’t as painful as she remembered.
As if reading her thoughts, Stellan said, “I’ll do my best to make the jump as easy as possible for Nylah… And I can keep her healthy until she makes it to Andarre.”
Bridget noticed his choice of words.Her. Not us. Fae were very careful with their words, after all. At least his slip-up, purposeful or not, gave her some insight into his visions. “But…”
Throwing his backpack inside the bed of a beat-up truck, Stellan sighed. “I didn’t have to read your mind to know that was coming.”
“I can’t leave without saying goodbye to Archer,” Bridget said. He’d made it very clear he never wanted to step foot back in Elyria. Even though she rarely told him, he was herfriend. Leaving him would slice her open. “He’s still passed out. I can’t just leave him here… not without telling him where we’re going. And why.”
Stellan crossed his arms and leaned against the truck. Bridget followed his eyeline to where Alexia spied on them through the kitchen window. “I’m guessing the stray won’t let you out of her sight either.”
Bridget rubbed her temple thinking of Alexia’s reaction when they told her theyweren’tgoing to Andarre first. “Archer… when is he going to wake up?”
“A few hours. Maybe days. I’m not sure. He was hit with a lot of magic.”
“Will you wait?”
