I’ve seen this done before, so when he lifts the dagger and cuts into his own hand, spilling his blood, I’m not surprised. Haven releases a small gasp, distracting me again, while Cassian bends down and smears his blood on the grass at his feet.
He steps back and lifts his arms. A gust of wind rips over the hill, sending his dark hair flying just as the first shimmer of a portal bursts into existence, glowing like an orb.
Cassian grits his teeth as he pours his magic into the portal and it slowly starts growing, going from the size of a tennis ball to a basketball as it widens.
The portal is opaque, concealing the world beyond, and blazing like a bright rupture against the fading light of dusk.
By the time it’s large enough for someone to go through, Cassian’s arms are shaking and sweat runs down his temples. When he gets to the creature world, he’s going to be drained, just like when we came here. He’s putting an awful lot of trust in us not to turn him back over to the Society while he’s weak, and I’m determined to make sure that trust isn’t misplaced.
“It’s time,” he calls to us, and Locklyn steps forward with her parents, like we planned.
David and Emily exchange a wary glance, stopping before the shimmering portal.
“Don’t be scared,” Locklyn tells them. “It’s going to feel a bit strange, and you might pass out, but it will be okay.”
They nod, and then step into the portal, disappearing.
Haven makes a little sound in the back of her throat when her parents vanish, and I can’t hold back anymore. I reach for her hand, but as soon as my fingers brush up against hers, she yanks away, shooting me a glare.
Alarm bells ring in my head.
I’ve misjudged the situation. This is more than just anxiety over not knowing where we stand.
Locklyn walks into the portal next, followed by Talon, leaving just Haven, Cassian, and me to go through. Kade is staying in the human world, planning to do what he can on this side until we return.
Haven takes a step forward, but I gently grab her arm, stopping her. This probably isn’t the best time, but it’s the first moment we’ve been alone since she started acting differently, and I need to know what’s going on.
“Hold up a second,” I say, noticing that she still won’t look me in the eye. I step in front of her, forcing her to acknowledge me. When she finally glances up at me, there’s still fire in her gaze.
“We have to go,” she says, annoyed.
“We do, but first I just want to know what’s wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” she says, and I don’t need superpowers to see that’s a lie.
“Something’s off between us. Has been for the last few days. I’m just a little confused. I thought we were in a good place.”
“Oh, I know exactly what you thought,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest as she stubbornly lifts her chin.
Something about the motion makes me think she’s trying to protect herself rather than appear tough, and that confuses me.
“What happened? Something’s changed. If I’ve done something to?—”
As I’m talking, Haven’s eyes start to shine, and she looks away again. My heart squeezes in my chest, wanting to fix whatever is causing her pain.
“I know,” she says, cutting me off.
My brows knit. “Know what?”
Her lower lip trembles like she’s about to cry, and I reach for her, but she slips out of my grasp. She bites her lip and takes a shaky breath, fighting to pull herself together.
“What’s the hold-up?” Kade calls from next to Cassian.
I glance over my shoulder to see Cassian standing with his arms outstretched, jaw clenched. We need to get through that portal, but this is important.
“One sec,” I call back, and Kade lifts and drops his hands, like he can’t believe I’m doing this.
He’s not wrong; the timing sucks. But when I look back at Haven and she lifts her eyes to mine again, her gaze is dull and lifeless.
