Page 95 of Lifebound

However, to actually say these things required voice, and apparently my traitorous body had decided to withhold it from me for the moment, so all I did was look up at him and try to tell him with my eyes.

My God, he was so beautiful with only the light of the bird falling on his face like that. His eyes seemed more silver than ever, and the way he was looking at me made my knees weak. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and kiss him with my everything more than I wanted to breathe right now. I thought I needed him before, but now Icravedhim. Now, he had suddenly become my lifeline.

How much longer would I have to hold myself back like this? Because this was torture.

“Well, do you?”

Those two words broke whatever ice had taken over my brain and turned me into a mute zombie.

“Yes,” I breathed, and I begged God and whatever star could hear me in this place right now that he’d kiss me. That he’d close the tiny distance between us and bring those lips to mine so I could feel him again.

“I’ll be right back,” Rune said instead, and with one sad,lingering look at my parted lips, he stepped back. Turned around and walked away toward the town. Left me there with the little bird that was flying right in front of my face.

Instinctively, I raised my hand to it, and it sat on my palm right away. Moved the little beak made out of light, though no sound came out of it.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes and I was also smiling at the same time. I had no idea what the hell was happening to me, but now I was terrified for real. Not by whatever hid in that forest at my back or the darkening sky—but by the fact that everything was slowly losing color in my life while Rune gained more and more.

So, I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath and I reminded myself that it was just hormones. I was ovulating or whatever. I didn’tneedRune—I didn’t need anyone at all except my family. That’s exactly what I thought about—Fiona and Dad and Betty, who were probably worried sick about me, who were waiting for me to come back.

I imagined what it would be like when I saw them again, hugged them. When I told them abouteverythingI’d seen here, about the monkey monsters and the fae and Tuck and Tucker and the maze market, when I showed Betty my dress. When I told them about the house at the edge of the cliff where I’d eaten breakfast, and the colorful leaves hanging on trees.

When I told them about Rune.

My insides squeezed as if I suddenly had a hand inside me, crushing my heart in its fist, because…

When I told my family about Rune, I’d be a world away from him. I’d be in a different realm.

When I went back home, I was never going to see him again.

And that thought brought bile to my throat so suddenly, I had to put a hand over my mouth in case I actually threw up. Even the little bird was startled and flew off my hand instantly but stayed only a few inches away.

“I’m in trouble, aren’t I,” I asked it. “I’m in so much trouble, little guy.” And something told me that I didn’t even realize how much trouble I was talking about yet.

A thought occurred to me. “What if I leave on my own?” Who was going to know who I was if I wore this cloak and hood all the time?

“No, that won’t work,” I said a moment later. The bird flew up and down as if he was nodding in agreement. I didn’t know the first thing about how far the Seelie Court was or even in which direction to go. That—and who knew what other kinds of creatures I could come across until I made it there?

No, I wasn’t going anywhere—and that had nothing to do with the fact that just the thought ofnotseeing Rune again made me want to throw up. Not even a little bit.

And on top of everything, I could have sworn I heard howling coming from the forest behind me.

Faces of wolves I’d only ever seen in books and movies took over my mind instantly. That, paired with the fact that I was slowly but surely getting overwhelmed by my own contradictory feelings, and I had enough.

“Let’s just take a little walk. We won’t go far,” I told the bird, and I shot forward in the direction Rune had gone, back to the town where at least there were creatures I’d seen before, was familiar with. Because, yes, the Vale where the werewolves lived was supposed to be on the other side of the continent, but I’d heard a damn howl. Whether it had been in my head or not didn’t matter—I was walking away from that forest.

And I didn’t even have to go very far before I heard someone speaking.

The bird stayed with me, flew right next to my head so there was plenty of light for me to see where I was going and not trip and fall on my face. I planned to go the same way Rune had gone, but then I heard that voice, and it was loud, and I stopped to hear what it was saying because I was curious.

I really, really shouldn’t have.

A man was talking—screaminghis guts out at someone. “…good for nothing horseshit! You’re worthless, you’re completely worthless—I rue the day the stars put you in my path!”

My stomach fell. I held my breath, and even the bird held its wings out for a second as we waited…

“I’m-I’m-I’m so sorry, Sire. I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

This voice was small, and whoever was apologizing was also crying. He wasterrified.