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He rubs a finger over his chin.“I suppose that makes sense.I’ll just portal to the nearest restaurant then.”

“No,” I say quickly.“You can’t buy pancakes and bacon at just any restaurant.It has to be a diner.But the food will be cold by the time you get back.You’ll have to get the ingredients from a supermarket.”I wave at the makeshift kitchen.“I can cook food here.”

“This is just my temporary hideout.I don’t normally eat here.It’s not well equipped.”

“If you can make a fire in that fireplace over there, I can make do with what you have.”

He considers that for a moment while I rack my brain for a way of getting out of here.A weapon.There must be knives in the drawers.

“Fine,” he says after a moment.“Give me your—how do you say?—grocery list.”

I tell him what I need.

When I’m done, he nods.Tapping his temple, he says, “Got it all stored up here.”

“I don’t know why I never thought to ask.”

“Ask what?”

“What your power is, the one you show to Alit in Lona.”

He smiles.“Don’t blame yourself for the oversight.I made it my job to become invisible.If people didn’t notice me or pay me much attention, it was by conscious design.”

“What is it again?”He’s already shared that information, and I don’t really care.I’m just playing for time.Every second I gain is a second that Aruan may discover me gone.But the connection between us is no longer there.The bond obviously doesn’t stretch across parallel worlds.He won’t know where to find me.I have no one to rely on to save me but myself.“Just for curiosity’s sake.”

“I told you.It’s my photographic memory.You’re not very intelligent for a powerful Alit, Elsie.”

With that reprimand, he opens a portal and leaves.

I sag against the wall, the strength leaving my body.The first thing I do is run for the door.It’s locked.I try the windows and find the same.It’s impossible to force them open.The wood is too thick to break.I focus on the wall, trying to dissolve it, but nothing happens.Tarix must’ve put a seal on the cabin.

Shit.

Concentrating hard, I imagine a portal opening in front of me, the space folding to accommodate my will.

No luck.

It’s harder than it seems.

With no other options left, I search for a weapon.Unfortunately, Tarix isn’t stupid.He’s removed every utensil from the cabin except for the spoons.That leaves me with hitting him over the head with a pot or stabbing him with the blunt end of a spoon.

Despondent, I grab the pot and slide down the wall until I’m sitting on the floor.I’m so scared, not only for myself but also for Aruan and what will happen if he finds I’m missing.

An ironic laugh bubbles from my lips.Ever since Aruan took me, I’ve tried to get away from him.Now I’d give anything for him to find me.I’d give anything to be back in his arms.To embrace him one last time.All I want is one more chance to tell him I?—

I halt my thoughts, my mind stumbling over the word I was thinking.

Love.

Yes, there’s no more hiding or denying it.

I love him.I’ve loved him for a long time.Since the day he saved me from the Phaelix.I just didn’t realize it then.Maybe even from the day I was born.

Fuck.

Now it’s too late.He may never know.And that’s the notion that devastates me.Not dying.Not perishing at Tarix’s hand.It’s never having told Aruan what he deserves to know—that he means everything to me, and that I’ll love him forever.

Until my dying day, which may be minutes away.