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“I did. Feel like coming to the human world with me?”

Her eyes widen. “Seriously?”

“Rafferty said I could take ten with me.”

She starts to say something, then stops, face falling. “As much as I would love to, my place is here, Ridley.”

I’m not even disappointed because her answer is exactly what I’d expected. “I know it is.” A bird chirps overhead, so I turn my face to the sky as a flock flies by. “You’d come back, you know.”

“You and I both know that if I go, you’ll find a way to convince me to stay.”

My chest tightens. “Would that be such a bad thing?”

“It would.” She reaches up and brushes my shoulder. “I know you don’t understand it, but I just can’t. I’m sorry.”

“I get it,” I reply, honestly. She’s always loved Faerie, and never had any sense of need to see anyplace else. She’s the type of woman to get married; have children; live in the same house. And I need adventure. Experiences. That in mind, I clear my throat and force a grin as I look down at her. “Know anyone who’d be interested in coming with me?”

She beams up at me, innocent beauty etched in every line of her face. “That I can help with.”