Page 57 of Curse the Flame

Until he folds his hands in front of him, shadows swirling at his feet, and he says in an emotionless voice that sends shivers skittering down my spine: “Aren’t you going to take it?”

I frown, confused. “Take what?”

The pomegranate? He has to see that I already ate it⁠—

“The portal.” His voice continues to be steady, but only because I know him well enough now do I hear the effort it’s taking him to keep it that way. “Don’t you want to go home, Willow?”

The question catches me so completely off guard that I can only stare at him.

Home?

When he discovered what I’d done, I had expected surprise. Maybe relief. If I was being completely honest with myself, I’d even hoped he’d smile when he realized that I chose him.

Instead… he’s asking me to leave, isn’t he? And he’s not even calling me “Blossom” while he does it.

Was it just an act? A facade? A way for him to lull me into loving him so that I did what the magic wanted me to do? If so, he wasted his time mirrorside being a mechanic first, and a soldier second. He should’ve been a freaking actor because I honestly believed that he loved me.

“I thought...” I shake my head, trying desperately to ignore the lump lodging itself in my throat. Don’t cry, Will. There’s no reason to cry… “Aiden, I don’t understand.”

“You should go.” The words are gentle now, and that’s worse. It’s so much worse. “The portal is still open. You still have the chance.”

Something inside of me twists painfully before hope swoops in. Foolish hope.

He isn’t looking at me. It’s like he can’t.

Which is a good thing because, if he was thinking clearly, he’d understand that I couldn’t.

Even so⁠—

“If that’s what you want...” I say softly, keeping my eyes on him.

In return, he squeezes his shut.

Okay, then.

I guess we’re doing this the hard way, baby.

I wait until I catch him cracking his eyes open just enough to watch me go before I turn toward the portal. The wavy light shimmers beneath my fingertips as I reach out, the portal itself impossibly smooth beneath my skin. I hold my breath and, hoping I’m right, I push.

Nothing happens.

I swallow my exhale of relief before telling Aiden, “It won’t let me.”

The words have barely left my mouth before the portal ripples like disturbed water. The brilliant light flickers once, twice, then folds in on itself until there’s nothing left but the familiar twilight of the garden.

Silence settles all around us.

When I look back at Aiden… when I see how he’s fighting an inner war with himself that he can’t win… I throw him a bone.

“I knew it wouldn’t work. I ate the pomegranate, Aiden. I chose to eat it, just like I chose to stay. But if you want me to go… that’s okay, too. I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m stuck in the Underworld now so I’d appreciate it if I could borrow Persephone’s room until I find somewhere else to stay, but you don’t have to worry about me crawling into your bed anymore.”

Okay. Part of me is laying it on pretty thick on purpose. Aiden might not have ever pushed me, but I’m not Aiden. And my god of the Underworld… he needs a little push.

At the same time, I won’t deny that his response to seeing the portal didn’t hurt. I mean, if he really wants me to leave, I’ll go. But if he was only saying that because he thought that that was what I wanted…

“I’m so sorry, Blossom.” His voice cracks again, and I know in an instant that my intuition was right when it turns raw. “I never wanted you to be forced to stay with me. If the portal came and you regretted missing it… I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t live with your regret, knowing that all I’ve ever wanted was for you to stay. But you needed to choose me, and why would you choose me?”

Oh, Aiden… as much as he’s breaking my heart right now, I have to say that I freaking knew it!