Page 31 of Twisted Fate

My lips part as if I’m going to respond, but no words come out. “Yeah,” I finally say. The back of my neck tingles, the hairs standing straight, and my arms break out in goosebumps.Was Tristan right?The thought invites too many questions, so I push it away and say, “What’s your plan for the day?”

She sighs. “Grading, grading, and more grading.”

“Oh.” I frown. “I was hoping we could all go out and do something fun if Adam is feeling up to it.”

“I would love to, but I’m on a pretty strict deadline. Maybe the two of you can spend some time together. You can have the car when Dad gets home. He shouldn’t be too long now. He’s been gone for over an hour.”Doesheknow about the fae?I doubt it, considering Tristan said the fae in my family were hundreds of years old. My stomach drops. How could I not have thought about it until now? If my ancestors were fae, does that mean they’re still alive?

I blink a few times. “Yeah, sure,” I answer.

Mom was right. It’s almost one in the afternoon when Adam shows his face in the living room. At least he’s brushed his hair and gotten dressed. It’s hard to imagine him being sick again. He looks like the Adam I knew before he got sick the first time.

“Good afternoon, sleeping beauty,” I tease.

He sticks his tongue out at me. “You’re hilarious, Roar.”

“Looks like it’s you and me today, kiddo. Do you want to do something?”

He shrugs, yawning. “We can walk around the mall or go see a movie.”

“Sure. Whatever you want.”

When Dad gets back an hour later, he gives us the keys, and we head to the mall. It’s nothing special—not an ideal hangout place, even when I was in high school, but it’s something to do. Mapleville is tiny compared to Rockdale, but I have fond memories of hanging out with friends at the Purple Cat café down the street from my high school.

My phone chimes with a text from Oliver, pulling me out of a memory as Adam and I walk out of his favorite clothing store.

I’m in your room waiting for Allison and some dude was here looking for you.

I frown. I’d told Grant I was going home this weekend when he asked to get together to work on our research papers. I hit reply and type,Grant was there?

This guy said his name was Max.

My throat goes dry, and I glance over at Adam. He’s looking at me with raised brows.Did he say why he was there?I send back.

No, just that he was looking for you. Is everything okay?

Everything is fine.I’ll see you and Allison when I get back.

Talk to you later.

I pocket my phone. “Sorry about that.”

Adam shrugs. “Want to get some fro-yo while we’re here?”

“You bet I do. Lead the way.”

While standing in line at the fro-yo place, I send Allison a message to tell her Max was creeping around. I don’t know why he was there, but I figure it’s best to let her know about it. As far as I know, she still isn’t on great terms with Tristan, so I want to make sure she’s safe.

“Hello, Adam,” a pleasant female voice says.

He turns toward the voice and smiles. “Oh, hi, Dr. Collins. Aurora, this is my new doctor.”

I glance at the woman standing in line behind us. She looks to be in her mid-forties and wears a slightly wrinkled casual sweater and mom jeans.

Her eyes flick to me, and she smiles. “You must be Adam’s sister. I’m Richelle Collins.”

We shake hands, moving up a bit as the line moves. “Nice to meet you,” I say. The timing is an odd coincidence. Yesterday, I found out about Adam being sick again, and today we run into his doctor at the mall of all places. A shiver shoots up my spine. No. I’m overthinking this. Had I not been recently kidnapped by the fae, I wouldn’t automatically be so suspicious of everything that seems a tiny bit off. I force the feeling down and smile.

“You too,” she says.

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