Page 81 of Locked

Tears pricked at my eyes as I reached up to run my fingers through my non-existent hair. I wasn't as worried about it as I was about him. I smiled in relief. "Thanks. Hoping to grow it back out at least somewhat, though…"

He stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. "I like it whatever way you have it."

Kinden was smiling too, taking a seat in the passenger's side of the car and reaching for my other hand. We stayed there like that for some time.

At least until the sputtering of Mother's car reached our ears. I'd never heard it before, but I recognized her silhouette in the driver's seat.

Kinden cast a cloaking charm over our vehicle, leaving us in semi-darkness as it shielded us from her sight.

She got out of her car and walked to the front doors of the high rise. She paused there, taking a deep breath before pulling the door open again.

We watched her disappear inside and my stomach filled with butterflies. She was early.

She was never early. What was…

What was going on?

"She's early," Rifyr acknowledged.

Kinden was already texting Sorrel. "He knows. He could feel her presence open the door."

I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart as Rifyr pulled his feet in, spinning slightly in the seat until he was sitting upright. His head still lolled against the back of the seat, but he looked a million times better than when I'd first arrived.

"It's gonna be okay," Rifyr said, his voice full of uncertainty. "Sorrel knows what he's doing."

Kinden sighed. He wasn't exactly the most optimistic of the three of them, but whatever Rifyr said seemed to be working to calm him down.

"Everything will be okay," he echoed.

Rifyr's hand appeared on the back of the seat where Kinden was seated, patting the back of his head before he returned his attention to me. "You okay, Zelle?" He glanced down at my hands, bandages covered my fingertips.

Mother had been visiting an awful lot since she'd burned off my hair. Emphasis on the 'awful' part.

My chin quivered a little, but I stopped it. Now wasn't the time for tears. Now was the time to be strong.

"I'll be fine," I replied truthfully. I would be.

Rif had started flexing his hands as mobility returned. He was blinking a lot more, looking around as his vision returned.

"Should feel good enough to take Zelle away from here in a few minutes," Rifyr said, sounding much more bright than I felt.

"You sure, man?" Kinden asked, turning around in the seat to face him. He squinted, trying to ascertain the validity of his words.

"Yeah. Judging by how quickly I'm feeling better," Rif replied. "That stuff Zelle gave me really worked wonders. I'm feeling awesome. Getting my vision back."

"Good," I said softly, squeezing his hand tightly in mine.

Rif sat up a little straighter, nodding his head. "Yeah. Maybe ten minutes or so?"

Kinden nodded. "Yes. Good. That's good."

"Are we taking the car?" I asked.

Rif shook his head. "My place isn't far, so we'll run it. Leave your stuff here, and we'll high-tail it back to my place to wait for these guys to finish up."

A lump was forming in my throat as I realized just what was happening.

I was free. Right now. I was free.