He’s silent for a long beat. “You say that like you’re not planning to stay with her.”

I open my mouth to object, but there’s no objection to make. I take his face in my hands. “I’m so sorry about all the terrible things I’ve said about you and your people.” I swallow. “I love you, Sebastian. I can’t live in Fairscape. It’s no longer my home.”

His expression is guarded as he studies my face. “And where is home?”

“I’m not sure I have one anymore.”

He dips his head and brushes his lips softly against mine. “I’ll make one for you . . . if you’ll let me.”

I curl into him, relishing his heat, his protective strength, and I think I just might.

Chapter Thirty-Five

EVERYTHING ABOUT FAIRSCAPE SEEMS GRAY after weeks in Faerie. From the sky to the houses, the grass to the trees—everything is less vibrant, as if a film of dreariness has been thrown atop the human realm.

Nik’s building looks just as I remember it, and Sebastian squeezes my hand as we approach her unit. Does he know how much these conditions sicken me?

Nik meets us at the door. She grabs my hand and pulls me inside, immediately shutting the door behind us. “They’re still looking for you, Brie.”

“Who—” Gorst. It seems like another lifetime that I broke into his vault to steal money to pay Madame Vivias.

“I’ve been so worried about you. I would’ve thought Gorst’s men got you if they weren’t still looking.” She pulls me into a tight embrace. She smells like soap and rose petals, just like I remember. I’m not sure I realized how much I missed her until this moment.

When she pulls back, she keeps holding my shoulders and looks me up and down. “You look amazing. I told you there were good things in Faerie.” Her gaze lands on Sebastian, and she frowns before looking back to me. The question is on her face—what does he know?

I almost laugh. Sebastian glamoured himself to look human for our visit to the mortal realm, and Nik doesn’t know that he’s fae, let alone that he’s the Seelie prince.

“I know everything,” he says softly, and I nod in confirmation.

“How is she?” I ask.

“She’s okay. She was pretty dehydrated and confused, but she’s doing better. Mage Trifen helped while she was at his place.”

“Thank you so much.”

She turns toward the bedroom. “She’s sleeping, but I’m sure she’ll want to wake up to see you.” Before I can object, she opens the door and lets the light from the living room pour into the tiny bedroom. “Jas? Your sister’s here.”

My throat is tight as I walk forward. How many times in the last weeks have I asked the mirror to show me my sister just so I would feel less alone? How many times did I want to give up but kept going for her? I rush forward as she leaps from the bed, and we meet in the middle of the bedroom.

Jas shakes as she curls into my chest, sobbing quietly. “I knew you’d come. I knew you’d find me.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long.” I pull back and study her. She looks different—still a girl but one who’s seen too much. There are dark circles under her eyes, but unlike the last time I saw her in the mirror, there’s color in her cheeks. “I have so much to tell you.”

Jas looks over my shoulder. “Sebastian,” she says with a smile. “You helped too?”

“Your sister did it on her own.” His voice is thick with emotion. “She would have done anything to save you. Would have given anything.” There’s sorrow in those words and a bit of heartbreak.

Sebastian stays by my side as I explain everything to Jas. I tell her who he is and how I found out. I tell her about my deal with Mordeus and my misguided friendship with the exiled prince and his band of misfit faeries. I tell her about our mother, and Sebastian squeezes my hand a little tighter when I explain the curse.

If it’s all too much for her when she’s still recovering from weeks as Mordeus’s prisoner, she doesn’t let on. When I’m done with my story, Sebastian kisses my forehead and releases my hand. “I’ll leave you two to talk.”

He leaves the room and shuts the door behind him. I press my palm to the tug in my chest as I watch him go.

“Have you told him yet?” Jas asks.

I turn back to my sister. “Told him what?”

She smiles weakly, but I see an echo of my hopeful little sister in the upward tilt of her lips. “That you’re in love with him?”

I swallow. “He knows.”

She tilts her head to the side. “Then why do you look so sad?”

Because I never believed I’d trust a fae prince, let alone two. Because I finally made some friends and found out they were using me. Because I hurt Sebastian and it’s going to be hard to forgive myself for that.

Tags: Lexi Ryan These Hollow Vows Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net