For the past month, she’d suspected Archer no longer believed her—that he knew she wasn’t just trying to understand why she still remembered. Especially not after they’d picked the question apart, again and again. Still, she clung to the lie. If he, orNylah, knew half the things that plagued her subconscious, they would never look at her the same.
“You’re not going to find them here.”
Anger sparked in her chest. “You don’t know that. There was a time when there were working gates all over. And today…”
Archer held up his hand. “It’s just you and me here right now, Bridget. You don’t have to hold back.”
His words broke something inside her chest, already fragile by the day’s events.
“You’re right. I have been looking for… more.” Bridget glanced at her closed bedroom door, where a stash of information and secrets were hidden under her bed. Part memories. Part truth. Part delusions she wrote down in the middle of the night. Throat constricting, she admitted, “I’ve been having these dreams…”
“I know,” Archer said softly.
Bridget’s gaze snapped to his, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he reached across the kitchen island and squeezed her hand.
“I can hear you,” he added, voice low.
Heat traveled up Bridget’s neck. Nylah was in the room next to her. If he could hear her, halfway across the house…
Her throat tightened. “They feel so real.”
“I’m not surprised. Your brain has been messed with more than anyone I know.”
Bridget shook her head. “It’s not only dreams. I convinced myself I saw Cassia today. And there was this guy at the library… Something about him was so familiar.”
Closing her eyes, Bridget chastised herself. She should’ve paid closer attention to him and asked more questions, especially when he had mentioned druids…
Something small pressed into her palm. She looked down.
“Take it and sleep,” Archer said, closing her fingers around the object. “You haven’t had more than a few hours since October.”
Before she could protest, he added, “It’s not magic. It’s Ambien.”
“Sleep isn’t going to help me. I needanswers,” Bridget snapped. Dread filled her stomach just thinking about closing her eyes. It was the last thing she needed. “There has to be a reason why I feel like this… and an explanation for why I keep having these dreams and seeing things. Plus, last time I was in the way because I didn’t know anything. I want to be able to help.”
Archer stared at her incredulously. “Lasttime? The only time. You’re not going back.” He paused, then let out a hollow laugh. “Unless you think you are.”
“I’m not going back,” Bridget said, almost choking on the spark of longing she crushed down hard.
She wasn’t. Shecouldn’t. Nylah was here. And Cade… was going to be married soon. If he wasn’t already. Bile rose up her throat.
“Who are you lying to?” Archer challenged. “Me or yourself?”
Bridget’s hand shook as she grabbed the tequila bottle again, anything to steady her. He didn’t get it.He couldn’t.Even if she never set foot in Elyria again, someone from that realmwouldfind her. Sheknewit. Felt it in her bones. Her connection to Elyria wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“I’m not lying,” Bridget croaked, chasing the words with another burning shot. “I just mean that I want to be ready when someone eventually finds us.”
Archer’s jaw clenched. “Bridget… it’s been months.” His voice was careful, like he was trying not to break something fragile. “No one is coming for us. No one is looking.”
The words landed like a punch to the ribs. She staggered back a step, as if they’d knocked the wind out of her. For a heartbeat, the world tilted. It was a possibility she hadn’t let herself to ponder.Couldn’tlet herself ponder. Because Archer was wrong. So wrong. She’d seen Cade fighting when she went through the gate. He wouldn’t give up.
“You don’t know that.” She hated that her voice cracked. “Cade…”
“Let you go.”
Bridget’s heart stuttered. She could barely hear over the ringing in her ears. The kitchen blurred around the edges. Every atom in her body wanted to protest his statement, but she couldn’t deny the growing doubt traveling up her spine. No matter how much she wanted to. It had already been slowly forming inside her months.
Bridget closed her eyes and willed his logic away. “You’re wrong. You don’t understand…”
