Page 15

I stood, wrapped my hair in a top knot, and put on the pants. Then, Fletcher tossed me one of his black shirts that I dressed myself in. The hem fell to just above my knees and the sleeves to my elbows. It smelled like him, and it felt like he was staking a claim on me.

He smirked. You can wear something of Aldris’s instead if you’d like .

The thought of taking it off bothered me, making my answer clear. As long as Fletcher was around me, I felt a bit safer. I crossed my arms over my chest and grabbed my shoulders. “No, thanks.” I smiled. “But if you find my leather shirt, you can put it on.”

He gave a quiet chuckle as I tugged on my pants.

“Ready?”

I nodded.

“Hang on, one minute.”

Spirals of my magic rushed along his arms just before he disappeared .

Five minutes later, he reappeared with a new black t-shirt on, standing by my bedside with a young girl. Her braided hair was as bright as the sun and a gleaming smile graced her heart-shaped, freckled face.

“Topine?”

Her eyes widened. “Etta!”

I scrambled the five feet to her, wrapping my arms around her thin body so tightly I heard the breath flee her lungs. “Oh, Topine. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She giggled again.

I let her go and placed her head in both my hands, examining her flawless, creamy skin. She didn’t have holes over her body from the cages. Either she had been out for a while or…

I looked to Fletcher who had a grin over his face.

I caught a glimpse of light finally returning to his eyes, and it lessened the worry in my gut a bit.

I looked down his bare arms, searching for Topine’s pain riddled along his skin, but they were smooth.

He must have hidden it beneath his shirt.

My heart sank. He was already so tired. But to carry all three of our injuries was far too generous—too great of a punishment for him to hold alone .

Topine broke free from my hands and wrapped one of her arms around Fletcher’s waist as she looked up at him. “Thank you again for rescuing me.”

I looked at the image of him beside this young girl who he had saved from the Cidris. His stature, his height, and his intimidating aura melted me to soft putty as he smiled down at her. My heart pounded as it solidified something deep within me.

I still loved him.

Tears welled in my eyes as I darted my gaze to my arms to ensure that I hadn’t sent that thought to him accidently.

Fletcher nodded once. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

Topine reached a hand out. “No, stay.”

He smiled at Topine. “I can’t. I must go back to the Cidris Facility.

They are having a meeting about the escapees.

” His eyes sought mine and his expression turned hard.

“Do not leave this place. Ellion City is swarming with Cidris right now.” Then, his eyes turned to Topine. “You both are safe here.”

Topine stepped back from him, and I wrapped one arm around her shoulder and placed my other hand on my hip. “We’ll be here.” I smiled.

I saw my magic swirling down his arms, but I put up my hand. “Wait! ”

He halted, looking at me with a questioning stare.

“Do you…” I cleared my throat and gulped. “Do you need more blood?”

“I don’t.” Then, he was gone.

My heart gave one big thump before I grasped Topine’s tiny arm and dragged her to the bed, crossing my legs and facing her. “How are you here? Did they try to breed you?”

She shook her head, smoothing out her blonde locks that were tied in a ponytail behind her back. “Oh, no. Fletcher told me to play dead.”

“He told you?” I furrowed my brows, remembering that the cages were soundproof to those in the hallway.

“Well, he gestured it through the glass.” She smiled like the scheme thrilled her. “When they opened the cage to get me, Fletcher was able to grab me using a hologram and teleportation.” She smiled. “I’ve been in Elizy since!”

A flurry of warmth filled my chest that he had found a way to save her. Did that mean if I had looked at him, he’d have done the same for me?

Topine cleared her throat and stood, smoothing out her green dress and crinkling her nose. “How long should we wait to break out of here?” Her eyes went wild with wonder while her expression was pleading, desperate for adventure.

“What? No, we are staying here.”

She grinned. “Nope. We aren’t. You need to live a little, Etta!”

I thought back to where I’d first met her, on the outskirts of the crystal fields. Someone had even commented how she always found herself on the brink of recklessness. “We aren’t going anywhere with the Cidris out there.”

“Oh, whatever. I got out once. I can get out again.”

“Yeah, because of Fletcher.” I stood, asserting my authority with clenched fists. “I don’t think he’d be willing to put his neck out on the line for you again!”

“Meh, I’m not worried.” She shrugged. “I do this stuff all the time and I’ve only been caught once?” A laugh barreled out of her mouth. “I call that a win.”

My eyes widened to saucers at the gall of this girl.

“Oh, come on! I want to just peek at the downtown. I’ve never been to Ellion City. I want to see it so badly!” She clenched my hand. “Let’s go, Etta!”

Her magic swirled down her arms, and I jerked my hand away, breaking free. “My name is Ripley!”

Her swirls halted as she tilted her head. “What? ”

“I’m not Etta. I lied to hide my identity. I am Princess Ripley.”

Her hands flattened over her heart as she bowed her head.

I released her and placed my hands on my hips. “And I order you to stay here.”

She looked up from below her brows, smiled, then let her magic race forward. Then, she was gone.