I can feel my emotions rising as tears threaten to fall, and I don’t want to look at Sig. Even though I chose this, I planned this, it still feels terrible going back to camp and back to someone who lied to me like Dane did.
“Lennox, wait,” she says and grabs my elbow, turning me to face her. She sees the tears in my eyes and her face softens. She places a hand on each of my shoulders and lowers down to my level until her face is all I can focus on.
“You can do this. You are strong and fearless. You are a great leader, and you are going to get back to your kingdom.” My chin wobbles as her words sink in, her sincerity wrapping me in ahug that I didn’t know I needed. “Don’t let him change you. You know who you are. You know who we are. Come back to us.”
I can’t stop the sob that escapes and the tears that fall as I throw my arms around her, squeezing tight and nodding into her shoulder.
“I will. I promise,” I choke out.
I pull away and take a step backward, sucking in a deep breath before I turn my back on her.
“Oh, and remember, Lennox, whatever happens, don’t kill Dane.”
I let her words fuel me, and push me through the portal at the top of the slope, reminding me of the entire reason we are doing this. Dane controls the island, and he has lied and manipulated each one of us to get the healing waters. He cheated the magic, then took it over, holding the island and everyone on it hostage, all to get what he wanted.
I can hate him, but I can’t kill him, and I have to pretend that I’m still in love with him.
The night is dark and still, the moon barely a sliver in the sky. I glance around, making sure there is no one within sight before I drop to my knees. Digging my hands into the moist soil, I scrub the dirt onto my skin, dirtying myself and my clothes even more, shoving it under my nails so it looks like I went through hell to get back.
I let myself feel all the emotions from a moment ago and will the tears to keep falling. I need them, if not for the reason the Voyagers think.
Then I take off, tearing down the path and through the trees, running as fast as my legs will carry me, straight to camp. I need to be breathless and panicked. I need to be hysterical.
I need to be convincing.
I reach the trees, letting the branches and leaves whip at my face and push through the vines. The magic of the portalsurrounds me as I push into the darkness, breaking through the other side to the same familiar clearing I considered home not that long ago.
My knees hit the grass, followed by my palms, and I grip onto the earth, mustering all the emotion that I can until my shoulders are heaving with sobs. Sucking in the deepest breath, I will all of my fears and fury and hope into my throat, as a scream erupts that even I barely recognize, but I hope they do. I hope he does, because it all starts now.
“Dane!”
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
My voice is hoarse as I repeatedly scream Dane’s name, sobbing on the ground in the clearing until I hear noises come from above. One hand after the other, I crawl through the grass, tension pulling at my shoulders as tears continue to stream down my cheeks and fall to the ground.
Multiple sets of footsteps pound on the boards above, but I can’t tell from where. Camp has been tainted, and the surrounding trees, the lit torches and rope bridges, feel so familiar, yet not. It makes it easy to focus on my goal, not feeling any sentiment toward this place any longer.
“Lennox?”
Dane’s voice bellows through the clearing as heavy footsteps thunder across the planks, heading toward the platform. I hear the clink of the latch through my sobs, followed by the thud as it hits the ground.
“Lennox!” he calls again, and I look up to find him running through the clearing, straight to me.
More sets of footsteps echo around camp, torches lighting everywhere as Voyagers wake to the commotion.
I brace myself as Dane reaches me, falling to his knees and scooping me into his arms.
“You’re here. You’re back,” he says, squeezing me to his chest.
My hands fist in his shirt, and I fold my arms against myself, letting them act as a barrier, just a small amount of space between us that would never be noticed, but helps me catch my breath as I acclimate to his presence again.
The sobs don’t stop, they only come harder as the reality of what I’ve done truly hits me. A sharp pain shoots through my chest as I think about the morning, and see Weston waking to find me gone. It makes it easier to cry.
Voyagers gather around us, some in the clearing, and some leaning against the ropes and rails up above, each of them taking in the scene.
Dane pulls back and his hands move to my face. I try not to flinch when his skin brushes mine, and if I did, I can easily blame it on the pain from Sig’s punch.
“Are you alright? Gods, what did they do to you?” He examines my cheek, his brows furrowed as he looks me over.
