Page 26

I stayed close to the cabin, wandering just far enough to find the perfect spot to clear my head. Sun-warmed stones stood cradled into a bend of the river. It was an idyllic place, with tall, proud pines skirting the riverbanks. The perfect spot to sort out the complete mess I’d made of my life.

I pulled the piece of parchment and quill from my pack, along with the tiny vial of sprite ash.

The jar of glittering dust felt cool and smooth between my fingers, and I contemplated taking another dose.

I didn’t need it. My health was stable. But I was holding a release in my hands.

The ash would take away my racing thoughts and give me a moment of peace.

Even if it was fabricated, the thought was extremely enticing.

I dropped the vial back in my pack, refusing to take the easy way out, and settled on writing a letter to my sister.

I needed a sympathetic ear—someone to give me advice.

A role Gwen had filled my entire life. My half of the Loquentes Cartis had been left behind when we fled Mathenholm Castle, so there was no possible way to get a letter to her in Neverland.

But the realms between us wouldn’t prevent me from pouring my heart out to her—even if she’d never hear my words.

I situated myself against a boulder, using my pack as a desk, cleared my mind, and began to write.

Dearest Sweetie,

I don’t know why I am writing this. Maybe it’s because if I don’t, I might break.

Even though you will never see these words, I need to feel you here with me.

You think dying of a terminal disease would be enough.

Now I’m embroiled in a rebellion, there’s a price on my head, I’m seeing ghosts, I’m no closer to a cure, and to top it all off, I’ve got some kind of fated bond to all seven six of the beast princes.

I’m not sure I can face all of this on my own. I’m not strong like you. You’ve always had a hope for the future that I could never understand. Maybe because mine was stolen by death himself, a long time ago. Now, eternal rest seems like the easy way out rather than facing it all.

I wish you were here with me. To tell me that no matter what, it’ll all work out. Because even though I’m surrounded by these princes—who claim that, by some miracle of destiny, we’re fated to be together—I feel so uncertain.

Before, it was foolish to fantasize about love. But now that there’s a chance, I think I may be too afraid to take it. The way I feel when I’m with them… it’s like being entranced by a flame. It’s beautiful and warm. But if I get too close, will I be burned in the end?

If I’m meant to die young, loving them now will only make it harder to accept.

I’m getting ahead of myself, because none of it is real.

Their affections are nothing but a trick of the Divine.

A notion of love forced upon them, and it could break on a celestial whim. I’ll never know if they truly love me?—

“I don’t believe that’s the case at all.” A familiar voice intruded into my thoughts, and I jumped.

“Lucius? Is that you?” I whispered, looking around my little sanctuary, but there was no noise save for the rushing water of the river.

A hearty chuckle echoed in my head. “Try again. I’ll give you a hint—I’m far more handsome than my brother.”

My mind reeled. It had already been disconcerting when Lu had spoken in my mind, and now there was another one of them in my head?

“Who is this?” I called out, clutching the letter I’d just written to my chest in a ridiculous attempt to conceal the words from my mental intruder.

“I thought you were smarter than that, Michaela. What would your governess think?”

“Finn?”

“The one and only. No need to hide that letter of yours. I already know what you’re thinking. And you’re wrong.”

Fuck. That was Finn’s power. He could read my thoughts. But how the hell was he in my head? Was I going mad? Had the cancer finally addled my mind? That seemed to make the most sense. I’d seen Gunner’s ghost, and now I was hearing voices from Finn—who could very well be dead.

I should have opted for the sprite ash.

“You’re not going crazy. And I’m not dead! ”

“Stop that! Has anyone ever told you it’s rude to read other people’s thoughts?” I chided, feeling more vulnerable than ever knowing my mind could betray me.

“Most people never know I’m there. But with you, it’s a two-way connection. And since I convinced one of the guards to delay our daily dose of wolfsbane, I couldn’t help myself. Beats staring blankly at this cell wall.”

“I don’t know how you’re in my head but… thank God you’re alive.” A wave of relief washed over me.

“And here I was thinking you didn’t care. Now, be a good girl and close your eyes. I want to show you something.”

I hesitated, still questioning my sanity.

“Don’t be a brat. Do as I ask.”

I rolled my eyes, letting my annoyance burn hot so Finn got the point, before doing as he asked. When I closed my eyes, it was as though I had blinked and everything changed. One minute I was at the river’s edge—and now, I was back home in London.

My bedroom looked exactly as it had when I was a child. Before I’d gotten sick and they’d moved in all the medical equipment. I’d thought of it often. This had been the place of so many happy memories. A time before the world tried its best to break me.

I reached out in awe, touching the cream-colored wallpaper and tracing the small pink flowers I’d loved so much. Light filtered in through the frilly curtains. And there, standing next to my four-poster bed, were Finn and Hunter.

“How is this possible?” I asked, turning around and inhaling the comforting scent of my mother’s perfume, still lingering in the air.

“I’ve seen this place in your thoughts before. I ventured that it might be a good place for us to talk. Hunter created the visual. I provided the memory.” He picked up my teddy bear, still nestled among the pillows on my bed, and raised an eyebrow at me.

“Am I dreaming?” I asked hesitantly, waiting for the visions of Hunter and Finn to confirm that I was, indeed, mad. But there was no hint this was a dream. I’d been wide awake only moments before.

“Do you like it?” Hunter asked with a hopeful look.

That was all I needed to give in to the delusion. I was desperate to feel at home again.

“Hunter, it’s beautiful.” I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around him. He stood stoic for a moment, stunned by my forwardness—but in a heartbeat, his arms wrapped around me, locking me to him. Clinging to me as though I were his only lifeline.

“The builder gets all the credit when it was the artist who made the masterpiece,” Finn remarked, tossing my teddy back on the bed.

I reluctantly pulled away from Hunter and turned to Finn. “I thought you already knew what I was feeling?”

“It’s always nice to feel appreciated. And I know exactly how much this place means to you,” he said, holding my stare with inquisitive hazel eyes.

“How often have you been eavesdropping on my thoughts?” I almost didn’t want to know the answer. My cheeks flushed with preemptive embarrassment.

“Whenever the wolfsbane begins to wear off. Your mind’s been a sanctuary. I much prefer it to this cell.”

I wanted to be angry with him for the violation of my privacy, but how could I, with an answer like that? Hesitantly, I reached for his hand, taking it gently in mine, feeling more reserved around him than I did with Hunter.

“I’m so sorry. Nico and the others, they told me there was no way to free you from the dungeons,” I admitted, ashamed that I hadn’t pushed harder to come after them.

“Don’t feel bad, beautiful. Nico’s right. Without an army, there is no getting us out of here,” he assured me, squeezing my hand. “That’s why I’ve been visiting your thoughts when I can. I don’t know how much time we have left. It might be the only way I get to know you.”

“Don’t think like that. They’ve kept you alive this long. And Nico is working on a plan. We’ll get you all out…” I trailed off. “Where is Jase?” I asked, realizing that Hunter had only pulled me and Finn into the dream.

They shared a look.

“We don’t know,” Hunter answered. “Finn is in the cell beside me, so I can pull him into dreams. But Jase… wherever he is, he’s too far for me to reach.”

“Do you… do you think he’s dead?” I swallowed the lump in my throat and sat down on my bed.

“You tell me,” Finn said.

“What do you mean? We’ve gotten no word if any of you were dead or alive.”

“You would have felt it if he no longer walked this realm. The same emptiness you felt when Gunner died. The longer you’re in Hiraeth, the stronger our connection grows.”

“Is that the reason you can reach me when we’re so far from the castle?”

“With you, everything is different. There’s an unbreakable connection. It doesn’t matter how far you are—we can still reach you,” Hunter explained.

“Is that some special perk of being fated?” I asked, the edge of sarcasm coming out a bit too strong.

“You scoff at the idea of being fated, like it’s just some meddling gods pulling strings, but it’s more than that,” Finn said, running his hands through his thick hair as he paced my small room, looking annoyingly handsome in his irritation.

“You say that, and yet you barely acknowledged me from the moment we met. I distinctly remember you pushing against Nico’s decision to bring me here.”

Finn tensed, pausing his pacing as he shot me a sideways glance.

“We may be living in a nightmare, but I’ve learned a lot.

It just so happens that the scribes’ quarters are directly above the dungeon.

Apparently, Johan values them only slightly more than prisoners.

They’ve been doing research—not only about prophecies, but fateds too.

I’ve been eavesdropping on their thoughts.

He has them studying fated bonds. How they are created.

How they can be destroyed. Life-binding, ancient blood rites, and the like. ”

Finn resumed pacing, stopping to pick up a jewelry box with a ballerina on the top before continuing.

“It’s not meddling, as you so callously called it.

They’re more important than you realize.

Everything is woven into the fabric of fate.

Each of us a string, adding to both the light and the dark.

A masterpiece of life. Some are bound together to ensure that balance remains.

It is rare for strings to be tied to one another the way ours are.

Being fated is more than love. Our threads are now equal parts of the same soul. ”

My heart was racing as he spoke, enraptured by his words.

I wanted so badly to believe the beautiful picture he was painting for me, but my relationship with these beasts only seemed to grow more complicated.

Shouldn’t we simply click into place, recognizing our kindred bonds, and live happily ever after?

“And you believe the scribes that are loyal to Johan?” I asked, trying to play devil’s advocate.

“They are equally as captive as we are. They’d be killed if they refused him. Besides, I can hear every thought—I’d know if they were lying.”

“You hear every thought? Does that mean you’ve heard all of my thoughts?” I asked, almost afraid I would die of embarrassment if he had.

“If you’re referring to what happened between you and Lucius, the answer is—unfortunately—yes.”

I chucked my teddy at his head. “That was supposed to be private!”

“What are you two talking about?” Hunter asked, his brows drawn together as he looked between Finn and me.

“The fact that Lucius has carnal knowledge of our fated,” he said matter-of-factly, and I momentarily considered throwing my eidris at him, until I remembered this was only a dream.

“Lucius? Really?” Hunter rubbed his chin as he looked at me. “I know we all dreamed of being the first, but I always assumed it would be Nico, or maybe even Luca… but the runt?”

“He’s always been true to me. Genuine in his feelings from the very start. While the rest of you fought with your own reservations over this fated shit. I have no regrets,” I said, lifting my chin.

“Reservations?” Finn shot back. “That’s a little unfair, when you were literally writing down your own reservations just now. Do we not deserve the same grace?” There was an edge to his voice as he stalked toward me, invading my personal space.

“I’m sorry… you’re right. But in my defense, you’ve all had plenty of time to tell me. Even now you’re keeping secrets from me, and it feels like betrayal.”

Finn leaned in, forcing me backward on the bed while he planted two fists on either side of my legs.

I tried to pull away from him, but the bed creaked as Hunter crawled up behind me—the two of them sandwiching me in.

My heart was in my throat, pounding away at an erratic rhythm.

My mind struggled to remember this was only a dream.

Hunter pulled my hair to one side, and I shivered as cool air rushed across my neck.

Finn was so close I could feel his breath on my lips as he spoke. “Maybe it’s to protect you. To keep you in blissful ignorance, so you can go one more day without knowing things that might make you wish you’d never set foot in Hiraeth.”

The air between us was charged. My mind clung to Finn’s words, imagining invisible threads pulling taut—bringing us together.

“Finn, we have to wrap this up. Guards are coming,” Hunter said, grit in his voice. He sucked in a deep breath at my neck before pulling away.

Finn grumbled, leaning forward until his forehead met mine.

“Tell my brothers that Johan is planning something. He will cut out the heart of this little revolution if Nico doesn’t act fast. The vulture plans to make the populous bleed until they happily give you over.

Nico needs to enact his plans now… or consider that all is lost in Hiraeth, and seek safe haven in Neverland. ”