Freed (Imprisoned by the Fae 3)

“I’m an ass. Forget I said anything.”

I wish I could. But if Jim already thinks something’s up with me and Saxon, how long before he realizes that his instincts really are spot on—but he has the wrong Seelie?

I downplay it. Hard. “Jim. How could you even think that?”

“I know. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just… I thought it was weird he called you ‘Hel’.”

“He’s not, though. That’s what I was trying to tell you. In Faerie, I go by ‘Elle’. No one knows my true name except for you. I’ve learned to guard it fiercely. The alternative… just—” I shake my head. I don’t want to think about what Veron or Dusk could’ve made me do if they knew my true name. “Promise me, Jimmy.”

“Hel—” At my look, he hurriedly changes it to, “Elle.” He nods. “Okay. I get it. It might take me a minute, but I’ll do it.”

“I need you to promise anyway. Please? Humor me.”

It’s not the first time I’ve said that to him. During our ten years together, I’ve probably begged him to humor me a hundred times at least.

And, what a surprise, his answer is as dismissive as it always was.

I guess some things never change.

“It’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going to be here long enough to screw this up. Though I’ve got to say, you know a hell of a lot for only being here a day longer than me.”

“Two months,” I blurt out. Seriously. It just slips right out.

I had wanted to be a little more smooth about it. Yeah. That didn’t happen.

Jim’s mouth opens slightly. “What?”

“I’ve been in Faerie for two months. It’s been that long since I got lost in the park by our apartment. There was this ring of mushrooms,” I explain, “and I thought it was a joke, right? A fairy circle… it wasn’t supposed to be real. Well, it is. I ended up in Faerie two months ago. That’s how long it’s been for me.”

“So that’s what happened?”

“Yes.”

“It was an accident? Really?”

I nod.

“Actually, that sounds like something you’d do.” Jim chuckles. He freaking chuckles. “Impulsive as ever.”

Why isn’t he taking me seriously? “I’m not kidding. This is serious. You don’t know… you don’t know what I’ve been through. I need you to promise me. Don’t use my name. Don’t use yours, either. Can you promise me that?”

I think he finally realizes that I’m dead-ass serious. “Hey. Alright. Yeah. I promise.”

I exhale softly. “Thank you.” It’s okay to say that to Jim. He’s human… and that’s something the Helen he knew never would’ve had to think about.

But I’ve changed. I’ve changed a lot, and here’s Jim, looking exactly as he did the last time I saw him.

As if he can sense the way my mood goes dark, Jim looks at me. He really looks at me, much closer this time. His brow furrows, his lips turning down in a deep frown.

Hey. I did want him to take me seriously.

“Wow.” Jim whistles. “Two months, huh?”

“More than that now, but yeah.”

“It was only just the one day for me, I swear.”

He sounds so dismayed all of a sudden, I feel even worse. I didn’t think that was possible.