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“What if Kellan never comes back?” I whispered. He was my soulmate. Not that they would believe me. They didn’t even believe that I’d been taken by a witch.
Mother searched my eyes, and she wrapped her palm around her mouth. “What did he do to you?”
I lifted my gaze toward hers. “He saved me.”
“You’re in love with him,” she hissed, stepping back to put distance between us. “That man touched you, didn’t he?”
I gaped at her. She was seriously blaming the man that saved me because I had feelings for him?
“You’re serious?” I asked. “First, I’m an adult. If I want to date a man, I can. Kellan didn’t force anything on me, Mother.”
“He’s not human, Josie. You have to see that.”
I pointed toward my chest. “I see way more than that. I see the family he lost, the pain he’s overcome, and the bravery he’s showed by saving me. Do you think Jacob would have done half of what Kellan has to save me? I don’t. That feeling I told you about in the garden. I feel it now. I refuse to let him die in that wasteland because you’re afraid to let me go.”
Mother sighed heavily and closed her eyes. I could see her calculating a plan to keep me here. “You need to eat and rest, Josie. We can talk about this when you've had a good night’s sleep. You friend can sleep in a guest bedroom—”
“She’ll sleep with me,” I blurted out.
I didn’t trust them. How could I trust people that would throw away the man they hired to save me? How could I trust my own parents? One of them knew something about the spindle, and I wasn't stopping until I figured out which one.
Chapter Thirty-three
Kellan
The Dark Woods sat several yards in front of us. The depth of them looked menacing. The silence was heavy in the air. The walk through the forest felt like years. It felt like years since Josephine left.
Every noise I’d heard gave me hope they were traveling through the portal with the spindle.
The longer it took the more nervous I grew. Had her parents not let her come back? Could she not figure out who took it?
Ernest put his palm on my shoulder and drew me out of my trance. “It’s getting late. Perhaps we should camp here for the night?”
I nodded, though I didn’t meet his eyes. Ernest was very observant and knew when I was fighting something inwardly.
“Sure. Let’s make camp over there, out of sight of the Dark Woods.”
I poured my strength into starting a fire and hiding us from the sights of the Dark Woods. Sweat trickled down my body before I sat at the base of a giant tree and braced my elbows against my knees.
The sun set over the hills, and night crept upon us. Ernest ate his half of our last loaf of bread, while I pretended to rest my eyes.
I’d thought of nothing but Josephine since they left through the portal. How in the hell was I supposed to know if they were on their way? Or if they were even safe?
Sliding my sweaty palms down my thighs, I looked up to see Ernest staring at me. “Kellan,” he said. “You’ve been quiet all day. Say it. How are you coping?”
I chuckled and rested my head against the tree trunk. “I’m okay,” I said. “I’m worried about her. I don’t think they should have gone without me. What if her parents won’t let her back? I’m afraid I’ll never see her again.”
Ernest pursed his lips and stroked his long beard for several seconds. “Now do you believe me?”
I cut my eyes at him. “What?”
“You believe that she’s your soulmate now?”
I shifted. “Yes, Ernest. I do. Thank you for that very obvious ‘I told you so.’”
He laughed. “I deserved to say that.”
I smirked. “You’re right. I’ll give you that one. That’s it, though. Next time, I'm gonna let you have it.” Standing up, I grabbed our canteens and looked around. “I’m going to get some water. I’ll be back. If you hear me screaming, come running with your magic, please.”
