Page 66 of Tik-Tok

“I knew you would be all right.” She stepped back and tucked a lock of silver hair behind North’s ear. “My strong, brave daughter.”

Tin folded his arms around her next. “I’ve been worried out of my mind.”

“I’m fine, Father.” She squeezed him in return. “You don’t have to worry so much.”

Tin cocked his head, eyeing her, as if he knew something, could read all that had happened within her. Before he could say anything else, her grandparents rushed into the room with rumpled hair, untucked shirts…

Gods. She could feel her cheeks heating at what her return had so obviously interrupted.

“I can’tbelieveyou sent Crow home after he located you.” Reva narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

“I had to find myself.” North shrugged.

Her grandmother’s gaze softened. “We all have to do that from time to time.”

“Did Tik-Tok turn you to stone at all?” Jack asked.

After his question, more fired off in all directions about Tik-Tok—she had to explain over and over that he had treated her well and not once had he turned her into his personal ornament.

Birch must have noticed her drooping frame because he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door. “I think North wants to lie down for a little while.”

“I needed that,” she whispered so only he could hear.

“I could tell.” He chuckled.

“I’ll take her from here, Birch,” Thelia said, wrapping her arm around North’s shoulders. She led her out of the room and up the long emerald stairs.

North stayed quiet while her thoughts churned inside her head. Stay home? Or return?

“Are you really all right? Is there anything I can do?” Thelia asked as she opened the door to the room where North had been staying at the Emerald City Palace.

“I … I miss him already.” She’d hugged so many people today, but she needed her mother. Her arms enveloped her and she cried, ugly, wretched tears.

And she told her mothereverything.

That night, North warred with herself. Her mother had understood everything she’d confessed. After all, Thelia had left her mortal world and stayed in Oz with a male who everyone had once feared. And no matter what North chose, her mother would support her.

North lay in bed, rotating Tik-Tok’s compass in her hand. She didn’t know what to do, but it wasn’t as if she could never return home if she chose to go back to Tik-Tok. There was one person she didn’t want to hurt, who might not understand.

A knock came at her door, and she sat up in bed. “Come in.”

As if he’d heard North’s thoughts, Tin walked through the door, a scowl on his face.

“What did the bastard do to you?” her father demanded, taking a seat at the edge of her bed, the mattress dipping below his towering frame.

“Nothing.” North rested her back against the headboard.

“You’re different. I could see it as soon as you arrived.”

She flicked her gaze toward the window. “I miss the sea is all.”

“Be honest with me.” His tone was serious, leaving no room for argument. He was good at reading anyone, but especially her.

Blowing out a breath, she turned to face him. “I miss him. I miss Tik-Tok.”

He pressed his hands against his head before bringing them down to his knees. “I fucking knew it. I knew that look on your face. The sadness. The longing. Is it a spell? Please tell me it is, and we can get someone to remove it.” It wasn’t anger she saw in her father’s expression, but worry, so much worry.

North pressed a hand to her chest, where her scar rested beneath the fabric of her nightgown. She’d thought about telling her father what had happened with Rizmaela, but she couldn’t let him hold onto any more guilt. He knew what he’d done in his past, and this would only make him believe that it was his fault she’d been stabbed. She wouldn’t hurt him like that. While she might not be able to hide the scar forever, he didn’t need to know about it tonight or tomorrow.

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