The Offering (The Pledge 3)

But this . . .

How could she know what I’d planned?

“Why would you say that?” I tried not to fidget, but her words made it difficult. Suddenly the floor felt too hard beneath me, the walls too close for comfort.

She cocked her head—it was such an Angelina thing to do, that simple gesture. So familiar that the lump in my throat grew larger. I’d missed her so much over the past months. I’d longed so many times to grab her up and squeeze her in my arms. To hold her and never let her go.

Yet here I was, trying to tell her farewell without revealing my plans.

“You . . .” She hesitated, pinching her tiny lips into a puckered flower as she concentrated, searching for the exact right words. “You just have that look. A good-bye look.” She frowned, her lower lip jutting out now. “I . . . don’t like it, Charlie.”

A tiny gasp escaped my lips when I heard her utter my name. The last thing I wanted was to hurt my little sister. Not again. Not ever, ever again.

But here I was, preparing to lie to her too. To tell her that I had no intention of abandoning her.

I opened my mouth to do that very thing, to insist she was wrong, that I would never, ever leave her, but nothing came out. Instead I nodded.

“You can’t tell,” I told her. “Not anyone.” I reached across and my hands closed over hers, my heart soaring when she didn’t try to stop me. “But I have to go. I can’t explain why, but it’s important, and it’s a secret. Do you understand?”

She knew I was telling her the truth, and she nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. “Am I going to have to be queen?”

I blinked once, and then more furiously, understanding full well the implication of her question. She was asking if I was coming back. She wanted to know if she’d be taking my place on the throne.

If she would ever see her sister again.

I tightened my hold on her hand, frowning as I bit my lip to keep from falling apart completely. “I don’t know, Angelina. I’m going to try my very best to make it home. I’m taking Eden with me, and Eden’s tough. She’ll protect me. You know she will.” I wished I could promise her more, that I could guarantee the outcome. “But I promise you this, I will do whatever I have to do. No matter what. I’m going to do everything in my power to make it back to you.” I flinched at my own use of the word “power,” worrying that it would serve as a reminder to Angelina of what—who—I was. That Sabara still resided within me.

Instead she considered my vow, and then nodded again, looking so much younger and so much more vulnerable than she had when I’d first climbed inside her tree house hideaway just a few minutes earlier. She crossed the space between us, and she and Muffin settled onto my lap. After a moment I felt her shudder, and then she asked, “Will you take care of her?”

The question took me by surprise. “Who? Eden?”

Angelina nodded, and I wondered if she was the one fighting tears now. I knew how close the two of them had grown over the past few months, and I knew Angelina would miss her guardian.

I sighed and settled my chin on the top of her head, flyaway hairs tickling my lips and nose. “Of course I will. I’ll do my very, very best to keep her safe.” But even as I said the words, I felt silly. Eden didn’t need my protection. I was the one who needed her.

Angelina nodded again, accepting my word, and we sat there like that, in total silence for so long that the sky began to darken around us. I had just hours remaining before Even and I would be gone. I inhaled the childhood scent of grass and dirt that seemed to cling to Angelina, and relished the feel of her warm body cocooned within the circle of mine. And even when my arms and legs cramped, I didn’t move.

It wasn’t until Zafir attempted to ascend the swaying rope ladder that either of us stirred.

Angelina glanced up at me from her spot in my lap. “Is he gonna be nice to me?”

A shiver ran down the length of my spine at the fact that she already knew he’d be taking Eden’s place as her guard. But I smiled at the idea of Zafir trying to carry on a conversation with a five-year-old.

His head appeared through the opening and he glared at me. “Are you about finished, Your Majesty?”

Angelina untangled herself from me and crawled over to him, her gaze level with his. “Are you getting cranky, Zafir? Maybe you’re hungry?”

His eyes widened as he stared back at Angelina, his expression changing from shock to confusion to . . . something else. Something I almost swore was wry amusement. “No, Your Highness. I’m not hungry,” he intoned, more quietly for her benefit. “Just . . . impatient.”

Angelina turned back to me, her childlike concern taking over—as if she were fawning over a puppy or an injured bird. Her nose wrinkled as she tried to explain the situation to me. “We should get him a snack. He prob’ly needs a snack.”

I raised my brows at Zafir, trying not to giggle at the thought of this massive giant of a guard watching over my waif of a sister. Or rather, of her watching and fussing over him. “Yes, Zafir. I think Angelina’s right. I think a snack might do you good.”

“Charlie.” The sound of Brook saying my name sent prickles of foreboding over my skin. My emotions, after seeing Angelina, were far too close to the surface, and I worried that I might somehow give myself and my plans with Eden away if I were to face Brook now.

I stopped but didn’t face her immediately. Instead I gave the new guard, a man who just hours earlier had been temporarily in charge of my sister, the signal to give us some privacy. He didn’t leave us, but he pivoted, turning away to afford us some confidentiality at least.