Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“Yeah, shockingly,” I breathe.
“That seems like days’ worth of events.”
“It was about three days.”
“But only, like, a day here. That’s so strange.”
“How long are we going to sit here?” Caz’s deep voice rumbles behind us.
I look ahead at my building, anxiety coursing through me. Caz peers out the back window, seemingly confused by his surroundings.
I’m not sure why I’m so nervous having Caz come to my apartment, and that feeling cinches every part of me as we walk up the stairs. I find a key inside the half empty flowerpot next to my doorstep with a dead snake plant still inside it, and stuff it into the lock.
“Love of Vakeeli, Willow. Are you asking to be robbed?” Caz drops his eyes to the key in my hand.
“No one knows that key is there,” I counter.
“I do now, as well as your friend Faye here.”
“And I trust you two not to tell anyone where I’ve hidden one of my spare keys.”
Through my periphery, I see Caz shake his head as he follows me into the apartment. All the lights are still on, my bed unmade, clothes strewn about. The books Faye brought from Lit and Lattes are still on the bed, my joint papers and baggie of weed still on the nightstand next to it. I hurry inside, picking up loose pieces of clothing, glad there isn’t a stench permeating the air like last time.
Faye closes the door behind us, and Caz walks deeper into my apartment, scanning every surface, nook, and corner. I amble toward the bed, placing a pile of dirty clothes on the floor next to it, then pick up my joint papers and weed to stuff into the nightstand drawer.
When I turn, Caz is in the kitchen, picking up a half empty bottle of tequila. He reads the label, blinks with a frown, then puts it back in place.
“So, I’m going to let you two settle in,” Faye announces, still standing by the door. “I have to run to the pharmacy for Abuelita, but I’m off work tomorrow, so I can swing by and help out with this Tether thing if you want. Maybe we can find someone else here who has experienced the same thing you two have.”
“Doubt it,” Caz mumbles, collecting a book from one of my built-in floating shelves and reading the back cover.
I walk up to her. “Thanks, Faye.”
“Of course.” She swings her eyes to Caz, narrows them as she looks him all over, then puts her eyes on me again. “Text or call me if you need anything. And I mean it. Anything, Willow.”
I huff a laugh. “I will.”
Out the door she goes, and when it clicks shut behind her, I turn to Caz who faces me with his arms folded across his chest. “She clearly doesn’t trust me.”
“Hmm. A situation like this seems familiar, doesn’t it?”
He eyes me. “How so?”
“I dropped into Vakeeli, you didn’t trust me, and neither did your family at first. Especially Killian.”
Caz drops his arms. “He’s just protective.”
“Yeah, well, so is Faye.”
He presses his lips, taking a sweep of the apartment again. “So, this is your apartment in the North Carolina?”
“Yep.” I clasp my hands together, fighting a laugh. “As you can see, it’s not a castle or anything, but it’s only me here, so…”
He bridges the gap between us. “It’s fine. Enough for you, I gather.” When he’s only a step away, he takes my hand and tugs me toward him. I melt in his grasp when he wraps his arms around me. Even here, our Tether is strong. I can feel the power surging between us, as well as his soothing relief. My senses with him are still so high, but…
“Wait. I just realized I can’t hear your thoughts,” I tell him after a gasp.
He’s quiet a moment, then his eyebrows dip as he studies my face. “I can’t hear yours either.”
“Do you think that means we’re not Tethered anymore?”
“I can still feel your emotions, so I doubt it. They run through me—your worry, your anxieties. I felt your relief when Faye found us in that basement, but you’re riddled with worry now. What is it that has you so nervous?”
I avoid fidgeting in his arms. “Why do you assume I’m nervous?”
“It’s either that, or you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.” A half-lie. I press my lips, resting my forehead on his chest. “I just thought I lost you, Caz.”
He tips my chin with a finger, forcing my eyes to his again. “I’m right here with you, Willow. You made the right call having Beatrix send us here. You’re so damn smart.”
I can’t help smiling at his words, but for some reason, the smiles aren’t lasting. As much as I want to be happy, Caz is right. I am worried.
“What if Decius finds a way here?” I ask. “What if he comes and attacks even harder?”