Page 153 of Stardusted

“Toward what?” I pried my stiff grip from his forearms and hugged myself instead. The cold was sinking into my bones. “Where are we going? Where are you taking me?”

“I’ll explain everything.” He swiped a hand over his hair, slicking it back. His heavy exhalation came out as a white puff, and he reached for me, my shoulder this time, stopping short of actually touching me. “Let’s get out of this.”

“You mean you’ll explain everything youcan,” I muttered. I hadn’t meant for it to come out bitter, but there wassomuch, and this wasso overwhelming. Waking up alive and all-too-aware of how muchmy entire lifehad changed?—

“No,” Sky said quietly. He dropped his arms. Somber. “I mean everything.”

That stopped me dead in my tracks. Squinting up at him, I licked my lips, tasting rain. Was he saying what I thought he was saying? The lightning washed his slick face in white, revealing his expression. Resignation. That was resignation.

“I’ll tell you everything,” he said again, this time a bit more forcefully. “If we’re going to do this—survivethis—youneed to know what we’re up against. I’ll deal with the Creed’s consequences. We need to stay alive first.”

It shocked me enough that the rest of the panic faded. He was going to break his rules. I stared up at him, that confusing knot of feelings tangling up evenmore.

Wind buffeted us, slashing my hair across my face. Another bolt of lightning speared through the sky, and we both flinched at the accompanying ear-splitting thunderclap. That one was a little too close for comfort.

“Ah, maybe we could do it in the car, though…?” Sky turned to look at the SUV. “If you’re ready to get back in.”

He didn’t push. Didn’t force anything. Just faced me again and waited, despite the fact he looked like he’d taken a quick dip in a pool with his clothing on. Now that the anxiety had lessened and I could feel my body again, I was freezing.

But I still hesitated.

Something about getting back in that car felt like acceptance. I wrapped my arms tighter around my middle, huddling against the cold and…well, inevitability.

“Come on,” Sky said when another moment had passed. He motioned me toward the vehicle. “You’re soaked.”

“So are you,” I pointed out, but I fell into step with him, picking my way through mud and puddles until we reached the SUV. He opened the door for me and waited until I’d poured myself into the passenger seat before closing it.

The thud when it shut felt like the period at the end of a sentence. Maybe one that said,Here we go.

After the howling storm, it felt oppressively quiet inside the car. My clothes and shoes were soaked—ugh,soggy socks—and I swiped my wet sleeve across my eyes, clearing water from them before I tilted the car’s vent my way. The warm air trickling out wasn’t nearly enough, but it was better than nothing.

When I drew my arm back, the shiny metal bracelet I wore slid down. Mouth dry, I eased back in my seat, spinning it on my wrist. It was kind of pretty in the dim light, shifting shades of iridescent purple and pink. Not bad for alien bling.

Everything.

Sky was really going to tell me everything. I was finally going to find out why these marks were so damn important, why Sky was actually here, and what the hell the Enil wanted badly enough to crash my midterm and destroy the university.

Because I’d been stupid enough to be there in the first place.

Wind and rain tunneled in as soon as Sky wrenched open the driver’s side, jerking me from my spiral. I looked up as he leapt inside, and he muttered a curse, slamming the door. Shaking some of the water off, he blew into his cupped hands.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, looking away. My chilled cheeks heated. “I don’t know what happened back there.” The panic attack—if that was what it was—had hit hard. I’d never had one before.

“Don’t be.” Sky glanced my way before adjusting the thermostat. More blissful warmth poured out. “I think you’ve earned a few freak-outs.”

I exhaled a wobbly laugh at his wry tone, tucking my stringy hair behind my ears. He wasn’t wrong. Honestly, I was surprised I’d lasted this long without a full-on meltdown.

Sky lapsed into silence, like he was gathering himself. I let him, wiping condensation from my window and taking in the view. My earlier assessment was right. I didn’t recognize this part of the highway at all. How long had I been out? Long enough, apparently, for Sky to get us out of TWU, slap this fashion accessory on me, and cart us both out of One Willow.

Had he carried me? Something about that thought made me squirm. I did my best to ignore it.

It helped that the heat had finally begun to thaw me out. When I turned back, I found Sky watching me. He’d reclined against the window, one knee bent, forearm resting on it.

“Do you feel better?” he asked.

I nearly snorted. If he meant had I mostly come to terms with him being right, me being in danger, and almostdying—absolutely freaking not.

But instead of saying any of that, I focused on the shiny cuff. “You said this is…an inhibitor?” At my quizzical look, he nodded, and I twisted my wrist to look at it from all sides. So strange that it had no seams. How the heck had he gotten it on me? “If it’s hiding a…mysignal from the Enil, why didn’t you give it to me sooner?”