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He turned his attention back to Elizy, the mauves and azures of the barrier reflecting on his skin.

“Oh, they aren’t going to let you out again,” he whispered then took a hard gulp.

“You’re worried I won’t see you again.”

Keeping his shoulders toward the kingdom, he let his head swivel to me with a sullen smile and nodded.

He took a hand out of his pocket and gestured to my long-lost home.

“Look, this kingdom hates me. Your parents cannot fathom that I’m even still alive.

And, honestly? I think, sure, the barrier was to keep the Cidris out, but it was an added bonus that it kept me out too. ”

I stepped to him and curled my fingers between his. “I will not leave you behind.”

He craned his neck forward and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead. “You say that now. But the whole kingdom has. And once you become one of them—”

“I won’t, Fletcher.”

Pulling his other hand out of his pocket, he took my shoulders and turned me around, placing his fingers under my chin to tilt my head upward. My eyes clasped on a tattered, white hammock. Parts of the material had ripped away and were hanging down, swaying gently in the breeze.

“You see that hammock?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s where I lived when I was a kid because I was exiled. No one wanted me here, and I could have left, but I couldn’t leave you behind.” He released my chin.

“Fletcher.” As his words settled, I realized it was possible that neither of us would be happy here. But, curiosity had me on an unforgiving leash. “I want to learn how to use my magic. I want to give you back yours. And I will not leave you behind.”

His jaw feathered as if that was the last thing he wanted to hear. I could see in his eyes that his heart dropped at my words. A long moment stretched before he uttered, “I’m terrified, Ripley.”

“Why?”

He took an errant lock of hair that had broken free from my top knot and curled it behind my ear.

“If you go, your parents are going to do everything in their power to keep you from ever seeing me again. And they will succeed. And if that’s what you want, I will respect it.

But if it’s not, then I think you need to decide how you feel about me before we go in there. ”

Suddenly, my heart dropped as well with the thought of being forced to never see Fletcher again. I didn’t know if I could do that. Not when there was so much to sort out still.

As if he were afraid I’d overthink the issue, he continued, “And while I know you don’t love me, or trust me, or frankly even forgive me, I know I can earn it all back.

I just need time. I’m afraid of the negative influence they are going to be on you.

It’s going to be a lot of pressure on you to see things their way.

At the end of the day, it will be easier for you to stay in the castle than fight for us—me. ”

His insecurity, his heartache, his fear of someone else leaving him behind fractured me into splinters. It wasn’t a fear of just anyone leaving, it was about me. I could sense if I left him, Fletcher was going to be lost. “No one can change my mind about you except you.”

“Yes, they can. Do not underestimate the sheer amount of influence that kingdom will have over you. You are drawn to it. I know you feel it in your blood… because I can feel you. You look at this place like it’s home already.”

He was right. I could feel my blood tingling at my proximity to my kingdom, like a central hub that was the source of all my energy, my magic, my life. “Elizy might call to me. But so do you, Fletcher.”

His arms pulled me into him where I molded effortlessly to his body. “I’m not ready to let you go to them. Not when you aren’t certain about me still.”

“They can say whatever they want. I know who you are.”

He released me and took a measured step back. “Then who am I… to you?”

I smiled, knowing he was fishing for a label that he could hang on to while I was down there. “You are my light in a sea of darkness. And if I lose you, I’ll be lost forever.”

His lips set in a hard line as he averted eye contact. “I have a gut feeling that’s not going to be enough.”

“We are bonded,” I reminded, hoping that that would give him the extra reassurance he needed.

He shook his head. “The bond doesn’t force us together, Ripley. There are three other men in there who are bonded to you too. I’m scared they’re going to be more appealing because they are accepted.”

I pulled my brows down, unsure why he was so adamant. Had the way I acted caused him to think I’d just meet a stranger and fall in love? The insult stung. The idea of feeling this profound and complex affinity toward anyone other than Fletcher was absurd. “I accept you.”

“Well, you’re the first then.”

I looked up, chin on his chest and smiled. “I’m the only one who matters.”

He kissed me long and slow. “Yes, you are.”

“Can I ask what the hell happened? Why do they despise you so much?”

He shook his head. “I’m too embarrassed to say.”

I sighed. “Look, I know you’re scared, but I’ve made my choice, Fletcher. I’d like to go to Elizy.”

He nodded .

“And I will return to you.”

“Yes, princess.” A solemn grin took his lips as something dreary passed over his eyes.

Then, we were separating, being swept up by the wind to come back together at the bottom of the hill just outside the barrier. Up front, the translucent violets and ceruleans flowed slowly, as if it was made of glass, its reflections casting a shining glow.

A gray-bricked watchtower stood tall just beyond the transparent barrier where a guard lazily sat with his feet up in the oval window.

Fletcher released me where he held me by the waist, stepping away from me like I was suddenly poison to his touch.

He put two fingers in his mouth and sent out a loud whistle that startled the guard.

His boots disappeared and his head popped out the window, hands gripping the window sill.

A dark feather with a faint incandescent shine gleamed with various colors, emitting its own bioluminescence, stuck up from his metal helmet. A rayko bird’s feather.

When the guard’s dark eyes trained on Fletcher with deep hatred, a vicious protectiveness took hold of me .

“Darkly? What the hell are you doing here? You know you are not welcome.”

The hostility took me off guard, but Fletcher’s nonchalant demeanor told me it didn’t faze him.

Suddenly, I felt unprepared. I was out of my reckless mind.

The confidence in my decision crumbled like brittle clay, and all I wanted to do was urge Fletcher to take me away so I could think about it more. I wasn’t ready!

I spun my body to him to signal to remain quiet, but the words were already flying from his mouth, and I was too late.

“Tell the king and queen that Princess Ripley is home.”