Page 60 of Maddie

She hoisted an oversized bag over her shoulder and sighed. “All my credit cards and money were in my purse too.”

“No worries.” He tossed her a pair of his folded socks.

“What’s this?”

“My emergency fund.” He’d been saving up for his own flat so he could live independently from his parents’ money, but he wouldn’t need it now. Not in Wonderland.

Alice unrolled the socks to find a neatly rolled stack of bills. “Bloody hell, Noah.”

“I figured I might need to bail you out one day. Thought it would be from jail, but hey…” He laughed. “Come on then. There’s a place a few blocks over.”

Alice shoved the socks into her bag and followed Noah from the flat. “Will I see you again?” she asked when they hit the sidewalk.

Noah put his arm around her shoulders. “Of course you will. There are plenty of portals and it’s not as if I’d miss the holidays. I’ll just be there a bit later to avoid, you know, burning to death.”

“But you’ll be fugitives.”

“True.” Noah sobered. That part would definitely be shitty, but it wouldn’t be forever. They would make their stand against Rav eventually, and Chess too when he resurfaced. “I might miss a few holidays, but don’t worry, sis. After all I did to save you, I’m not about to vanish from your life.”

Alice thought for a moment, a line forming between her brows, before she relaxed under his arm. “That’s true, I suppose. But Noah, I’m really sorry about … everything.”

“Sorry?” He smiled. “Don’t be sorry. I wouldn’t have met Maddie if it wasn’t for you, and I actuallylikebeing a vampire.”

Alice uncomfortably shifted on her feet. Noah could tell she still felt both guilty and grateful by the way she studied him, but he didn’t want that. He wanted her to heal and live her life, knowing he was living his.

“Just don’t come looking for me,” he warned, his tone joking, though he was serious.

Alice chuckled, the sound thick with unshed tears. “I don’t think you need to worry aboutthat.”

Noah laughed with her to distract himself from the mounting pressure behind his own eyes, but then he winced at the thought of anyone else searching for him. “Don’t let Mum and Dad worry about me. Maybe buy a second phone since I lost mine and text them as me once in a while.”

“I can do that,” she whispered.

Noah caught the scent of the blood flowing in her veins again. He held his breath for a moment, pushing down his urge to feed. “Good. Then you’ll need to remember a few important things to make it look real. What was I going to uni for?” he quizzed.

Alice jabbed him playfully in the side with her elbow before answering correctly. Noah asked her several more important questions, sprinkling in a few smaller things to keep up appearances.

“When in doubt, be vague or ignore them. It’s what I would do,” he suggested as they reached the front of the hotel. “I’ll walk you in.”

“No.” Alice sighed. “I’m not the best at goodbyes, so let’s say them now.”

Noah swallowed hard. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Positive.” She gave him a strained smile, her eyes filling with tears. “Thank you for saving me.”

Noah sighed, wrapping her in a fierce hug. “What are big brothers for?”

“I mean it,” she said into his shirt. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” The words came out tight around a lump in his throat. He didn’t want her to see him cry, butdamnif it wasn’t hard to hold back. Even if he would see her again, he didn’t know how long it would be or if she would be safe until then. “I love you, sis.”

“I love you, too.” Alice pulled back and adjusted the bag on her shoulder. “Go on then. Keep yourself safe.”

“I will.” He nodded at the hotel. “But I’m not leaving until you get inside.”

Alice rolled her eyes, tears slipping from the corners, and turned away from him. “See you soon.”

“See you,” he called as she entered the brightly-lit lobby, hopingsoonwould be the truth. But, for the time being, he had to figure out how to clean blood out of carpet and dump a body in the Thames without being seen.

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