Page 77 of Taken By the Fae

“Hey, Allison,” I answer, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I was going to call you today.”

“Elijah’s in the hospital?” Allison asks, and the concern in her voice brings tears to my eyes once again. “I wish I knew you were going home—I would’ve gone with you.”

“Everything happened so fast. I found out last night while I was at the gala.” I explain how I got home as I pull a comb through my hair.

“Yeah, Tristan told me all of that. Do you want me to come? I can be at your place in a few hours.”

“It’s okay.” I sink onto the end of my bed. “I appreciate you wanting to be here for me, but I’m going to stick around for a while.”

“I feel like shit just sitting here while you’re there.”

I sigh. “All I’m really doing here is sitting—that’s all wecando. According to the doctor, there’s nothing wrong with him.”

“How’s that even possible?”

I have to swallow past the lump in my throat. “I don’t know.”

“Do you think… I mean—”

“You think the unseelie court has something to do with it?” The words tumble out of my mouth, twisting my stomach in knots. I can’t ignore the possibility of fae involvement when medically he’s fine. But what if there’s magic involved?

“Fuck, I don’t know. After Danielle tried to kill you and Skylar was attacked, I don’t think we can rule anything out.”

I stand and pace my bedroom; sitting still is only feeding the rage brewing in my chest. “I’ll kill whoever did this to him,” I say through my teeth as my blood pressure rises, making my cheeks flush.

“Take a deep breath, Ro. I know you’re upset, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves here.” She sighs. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come? I know your parents are there, but I want to be there foryou.”

Struggling to blink back a fresh onslaught of tears, I shake my head, sitting back down on my bed. “No, no. Thank you, but you should stay there. I’ll keep you posted, though, I promise.”

She exhales an uneven sigh, and emotion is heavy in her voice when she finally says, “Okay.” She clears her throat. “Do you need me to talk to your professors? I can let them know what’s going on.”

The idea of missing lectures makes me queasy, but I say, “Would you mind?”

“Consider it done.”

“You’re the best.” I lie down, resting my hand on my stomach. “I haven’t checked in with Tristan. How are things?”

“Okay, I think. I’ve heard a rumor from a few different seelies that Tristan spoke to the king and was granted permission to propose a meeting with Jules, the unseelie knight for this area.”

“That’s good. Let me know if anything happens?”

“Sure,” she murmurs. “Keep me in the loop with things on your end?”

“I will.”

“You know I love you. I’m here for whatever you need. Always. And if you change your mind and want me to come, I’m there.”

“I know, and I love you right back.”

After we end the call, I take a long breath. Not knowing what’s going to happen is killing me. My skin itches and my nerves are jumpy. My mind is racing with so many what-if scenarios, and I can’t think straight.

Crawling under my sheets, I try to relax. Tristan’s absence is tangible; as I gaze at the empty spot beside me, my chest aches.That’s new. I roll around to face the other way and close my eyes. Drifting off, I’m grateful for the darkness pulling me away from reality. At least when I’m asleep, nothing is wrong and my brother is okay.

When a scene materializes, it takes me a second to realize I’m dreaming. I blink a few times, focusing on the crackling flames in the fireplace in front of me. I’m in Tristan’s bedroom.

I turn to glance around the room. Even asleep, it smells like him, warm, inviting—with the hint of sandalwood and citrus I’ve come to associate with the fae I can’t get out of my head or heart. “You can’t invade my dream and leave me here alone,” I call out.

Tristan walks into the bedroom through a door that materializes from nowhere. “I know you told me not to do this,” he says as he approaches, “but I needed to make sure you were okay.” He’s dressed casually in a dark gray T-shirt and black slacks, his blond hair messily framing his face and his eyes soft as they take me in.

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