Page 28 of The Tracker's Dawn: Sunderverse

His gaze filled with sadness, much deeper than I’d ever seen in him, and for a moment, he seemed lost in his own despair as he contemplated what our future apart would be like.

Put yourself in my shoes.

I tried to imagine what it would be like to marry someone I barely knew, renouncing all possibility of ever being happy. It took me a moment to really let the idea sink in, and that was when I finally understood. I couldn’t condemn him to such a life. I couldn’t ask him to marry someone he didn’t love when I wouldn’t do it myself.

Lowering my eyes to my lap, I gave in. “Okay.”

A taut silence stretched for a long minute, and it might have gone on forever if my phone hadn’t vibrated. It was sitting next to my empty plate. Absently, my eyes flicked to the screen. It was my mother. I pressed a button and silenced it, deciding to call her later.

“Toni, I promise you I will put all my efforts into figuring out the safest way to carry out the spell,” Damien said, trying to reassure me.

“Thank you.” I began gathering the dishes.

Rosalina grabbed my hand and squeezed it supportively. “No way. You cooked. We clean up.”

Damien made a face that suggested he wasn’t cleaning anything, but a glare from Rosalina had him on his feet collecting utensils and empty cups.

Doggedly staring down, I refused to peer up at Jake. I was angry at him for making me see things his way.

My phone buzzed again. This time it was a text from Mom.

Call me now. It’s Lucia.

I snatched the phone in a flash, my heart in my throat.

Something was wrong with my little sister.

CHAPTER 11

Everyone stared atme as I jumped from my seat and started to call Mom’s. “It’s my sister. Something’s wrong.”

Mom picked up on the first ring. “Toni!”

“What’s the matter, Mom?! Is Lucia okay?”

“I don’t know.” Her voice sounded choked as if she’d been crying. “It’s on the news. Their school is in lockdown. There’s some sort of hostile situation going on. I called Daniella. She’s on her way here. She told me to stay put. Not to go to the school, but I’m going crazy here.”