Page 3 of Bonded Ever After

I didn’t expect a response, but I wanted to read his expression. His surprise at finding us fades away to a hard look that’s as guarded as the man himself. Whatever he’s doing out here, I’m not going to figure it out, he’s making that clear.

“You both have maps,” I say, turning to Ari. “Why?”

Ari shrugs. “Just exploring. Is that a crime?”

“No–”

“So get back to your jog and leave us alone.”

I bristle at the attitude in her voice, but realize I’m done with these two anyway. For now. “Okay, well, have a good hike, or whatever.”

Turning, I head back to the city, but when I glance back, they’re heading in different directions, which is strange. I’d have guessed they were working together.It looks like I was wrong.But then, what had drawn the two of them out here to begin with? And does it have anything to do with the fire or our dead parents?

TWO

Elora

I’m oddly tired from the jog this morning, like, completely exhausted, and I have no idea why. Maybe it’s that I know I’m leaving to Neverwood in a week, and my body is just screamingno, but it’s never been like this before.

“What about this one?” Beva asks, stepping out of her closet as she holds up a floral skirt and a pink shirt. “I feel like it saysfun and sexy!”

I attempt a smile that says watching her show me a hundred different outfits for college is super fun. “It’s really fun and sexy.”

She frowns. “Well, you won’t be able to tell until I try it on. I’ll try it on.” Then she disappears into her closet. “I can’t believe I’m leaving Paradise Falls and that I get to see the real world! I know I’m going to have to constantly be on alert for all the crime and violence, but I think it’ll be neat to see something new. To meet new people.”

“Yeah,” I say, followed by a yawn.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared for a war to break out. As we know, wars break out on the outside all the time. I keep having this picture in my head of a war breaking out in the city my college is in, but then I remind myself that I’ve neverheard of one of us leaving for college and dying. Disappearing, yes. Dying, no. But then, maybe the Council keeps it quiet so as not to scare us.”

“Uh huh.”

Deva’s bed beneath my cheek feels soft. My body melds into the mattress, and my eyes flutter shut. I’m just so tired. My muscles feel like jelly. Even my mind feels like nothing but mush. It’s like I’ve spent a whole day fighting and running in Neverwoods.Maybe I’ll just–

I jerk awake and realize someone is shaking me. Looking up with sleepy eyes, I see Beva staring down at me with concern in her eyes. She’s wearing the new shirt and skirt, along with some heels.

How long had I been asleep?

“Are you okay?”

I nod, then sit up, rubbing my face. “Yeah. Sorry.”

She frowns. “I have never seen you take a nap. Not even when we were toddlers.”

“Yeah,” I agree, trying to shake off the heavy exhaustion that tugs at me. Then I decide to share something that’s been bothering me. “I’ve actually fallen asleep a couple times in the last few weeks.”

She sits down slowly on the bed next to me, her brows furrowed. “Is that a normal thing for Gold Keepers? Because, I mean, it wouldn’t be something alarming for the rest of us. Naps are something we enjoy.”

I hesitate, then decide to be honest. “Gold Keepers typically need less sleep than everyone else. It’s just something about the way we’re wired. So, yeah, this is weird.”

Her expression seems troubled. “Don’t you have a physical soon?”

“Three days.”Fuck the Council. We don’t even need physicals. Gold Keepers have never needed physicals.

“Would they be able to figure it out if something was wrong?”

I cast her a look. “The last people in the world I’d want to know if something was wrong is the Council.”

I don’t trust them. I don’t say that though, because I don’t need to. We both feel the same way about them.

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