But he didn’t stop. The shadowy air swallowed them both as he slipped beneath the trees, the sun no longer strong enough to follow. She pushed through the underbrush, grabbing his arm just before he disappeared completely.
Kian whipped around to face her, his beanie askew, his face twisted in anguish.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice rough. “I wasn’t trying to— I just— I saw you. With Quin.”
Riya’s heart pounded. “Kian, what’s going on?”
“Do you—” He stopped, jaw tight. “Are you dating them?”
“No!” she answered quickly. “Of course not. Quin and I were just talking, and then I slipped. That’s it.”
But it didn’t matter. He wasn’t hearing her. His hands flew to his temples like he was trying to keep something from breaking loose. His breath came short and sharp.
“My freaking head...” he muttered. “We’ve only got five days, right? What happens to me after that?”
She stepped closer. “Nothing. I’m going to break the curse tonight. I promise.”
His head jerked up, eyes bleary. “You found a way?”
“I did, but—” She hesitated. She couldn’t tell him. “That’s not important right now.”
“It is to me.” He dragged in a breath. “What if it doesn’t work? What if you fix it and then I’m just—” He looked away. “Alone again.”
“It won’t be like that,” she said. “This is a good thing. A fresh start—”
“A fresh start forwho, Riya?”
The words landed like a slap.
She’d told herself again and again that she was doing this for him—for his freedom, his future. But what if this whole time she’d been so focused on tidying up the mess, she’d never truly faced the person standing in it?
“I don’t want to forget you.” Kian dragged a hand through his hair, fingers catching. “Because if I do—what if you forget me too?”
Riya swallowed. “...I’m sorry, Kian.”
“Is it me?” he asked. “Is there something about me that makes people want to leave? Hell, my ownmomwouldn’t stay for me.”
There was no anger in his voice. No blame. Just the naked, aching question of someone still trying to understand a wound that had never healed.
“What did I dowrong?” he begged.
What did I do wrong?
Riya felt her throat close.
Without thinking, she pulled him close. “You did nothing wrong. Okay?”
Kian didn’t respond. But his breathing slowed against her and the raggedness dulled, just a little.
She pulled back, gripping his shoulders to meet his gaze. “I’m going to get some help. But I need you to stay here and wait. Please.”
She hadn’t just come to the end of her own rope—she’d come to understand what Kian really needed: not just someone to break the curse, but someone who’d stay. Who’d know him, even if he forgot himself. And maybe his father could still be that person.
Maybe he hadn’t been the perfect parent. But even if Kian didn’t know it yet, Riya could see that his dad was still there. And that had to mean something.
She hesitated as Kian nodded. Then she ran.
It was a few minutes before she reached Kian’s house. She knocked hard, breathless and frantic.
