Page 29 of Lifebound

The point was that Iwasn’t crazy.I hadn’t lost my mind.

The point was that Mom was right to believe me.

And while Dad argued with the man to try to win me more time, I realized that even if he didn’t much like me, he’d come all the way here to find me. To talk to me. To tell me about his nephew. Even if hereallydidn’t seem to like my dad, it didn’t matter because the boy who saved my life needed me.

If I saidnonow, I would have to live the rest of my life with his blood on my hands. I would have to live with evenmoreguilt on my shoulders, and that I simply would never accept.

“I’ll do it,” I suddenly said, the words sliding off my tongue with perfect ease because every instinct in my body knew that it was the right thing to do. All the voices in my head agreed, too. If that boy needed me, I would go to the end of the world to help him.

Or, you know, to another realm.

The stranger smiled. It was genuine. His eyes sparkled, and for a moment there I could have sworn that his canines were pointy. Must have been a trick of the light because when I blinked, all his teeth were perfectly square again.

“On behalf of the royal family of the Seelie Court—thank you, Nilah Dune. Your kindness will not be forgotten.”

Meanwhile Dad stared at me with unblinking eyes, unable to say a single word.

nine

They agreedto wait for me outside while I gathered a few things and spoke to my family.

The guards didn’t hesitate when the man waved his hand to tell them to get out, smiling like he was suddenly holding the whole world in the palm of his hand.

I felt bad for him, if only a little. He looked like he cared a great deal about his nephew—just like that day at the meadow. He’d hugged him to his side, and the way he’d spoken to him had been very affectionate. I remembered it well, now that I was no longer doubting myself. I remembered every single detail without that dark cloud of doubt hanging over me.

Which made me a bit sad, too, to be honest.

All this time, I had let people convince me that I was crazy, that what I had lived, what I’d seen hadn’t been real. I’d let a small town get the best of me, convince me that there was something wrong with me, disregard my own thoughts and memories, create my opinion of myself based ontheirs.

Because I’d believed them a little bit each time they’d called mecuckoo. I’d believed them.

“But you have a flight to catch for New York City.”

Dad sat across from me on the sofa, while I sat on the coffee table in front of him. Fiona was by my side, too.

“You…you have to go to New York City, Nilah. You can’t just…go to another realm—you bought your ticket. Youhaveto go now. You have to.”

He was losing it.

I leaned in and grabbed his hands in mine—ice-cold and sweaty. “Look at me, Dad. It’s just for eight days, maybe even less. I’ll be back before you know it.”

He looked at me, shook his head, and he was on the verge of tears. I’d only ever seen that look on him once—when Mom died.Once,and then he’d gotten his shit together and had given us nothing but smiles even when it was obvious it painedhim to do so.

I loved this man to death, and I was so, so sorry for all I’d put him through.

“It’s…another world,Nilah. That’s too far,” he whispered. “That is entirelytoo far—do you hear me?”

“It’s close, though. Just eight days.” Tears in my eyes—I couldn’t help them. “I have to go, Dad. If I don’t, I’ll never be able to live with myself. That boy saved my life, and now he needs me. Ihaveto go, and I will be back so, so fast. You’ll hardly notice I’m gone.”

At my side, Fiona rested her head on my shoulder. I kissed her hair and told her. “I have to, Fi.”

“I know. I know,” my sister said. “And you should. He saved your life. It’s because of him that we still have you now, right?”

“Exactly.” Even if that specific thought hadn’t occurred to me before.

I was still here because of that boy.

“I never…” Dad closed his eyes and two tears rolled down his cheeks. “I never believed you, Nilah.”

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