A rock appears in my stomach. Leave the human world and go to another?
Forever?
It feels like an extension of what my life has been like so far. Running and hiding.
I don’t know how I feel about that. I’d never see Kendra and Tate again, but if I’d be safe and the demon would never come to full power, would the sacrifice be worth it?
I catch Talon and Locklyn sharing a look. “Theoretically, Haven would be safe in the creature world,” Locklyn says, “but even though the demon isn’t at full power, it’s still dangerous. We don’t even know how many lives it’s taken so far, but the body count is high. It needs to be stopped one way or another.” Her gaze shifts to me. “I have a feeling it’s going to take Haven to destroy it. But it will be her decision whether or not she wants to take the chance.”
Okay. That’s heavy.
The image of the poor dead woman in the hotel room after the demon used her flashes in my mind, and I know without having to think it over that if it came down to it, I’d risk my life to end the demon. It’s evil. It has to be stopped.
A hand lands on my shoulder and gives me a gentle squeeze. When I glance up, Becks is looking down at me with understanding in his gaze.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Becks says. And even though he’s talking to everyone, he doesn’t take his eyes off of me.
My heart tweaks, my mind fogging with confusion. I can’t reconcile the truth I overheard with how he treats me. Is he just that good of an actor?
“I think trying to get to the creature world and getting information from this Arcane Society sounds like our best bet,” my dad says as Becks’ hand slides away.
“But will Cassian even open a portal for us?” Locklyn asks.
Becks presses his lips into a hard line as he considers it. Finally, he shakes his head. “Honestly, I’m not sure. If we want to get back here after, he’s going to have to come with us, and he was pretty adamant about not being in the creature world anymore. It’s not going to be an easy sell.”
“It’s going to take some convincing,” Talon agrees. “Someone’s going to have to talk to him in person. And then get him out of New York. I was thinking I could go.”
Becks nods. “I can stay here and?—”
“You should go with him,” I cut in, and Becks’ gaze flicks to me.
“You don’t want me to stay?” he asks, looking a little hurt.
No one says anything, waiting for me to respond.
“It’s not that,” I lie. “But don’t you have the best relationship with him?”
Reaching up, he rubs the back of his neck. “Calling it a relationship is a bit of a stretch.”
“Well, it seems to me out of everyone, you’ve at least spent the most time with him. You have the best chance of convincing him to help us.”
His brow bunches, and I think he wants to argue with me, but it’s sound logic.
“She’s right,” Talon says. “I don’t like leaving everyone here, but this location is relatively safe for the time being. The sooner we leave, the faster we can get back. Once Haven is in the creature world and I have access to the Society, we can chart our next move.”
“We’ll be fine here. We have weapons,” Locklyn pipes in.
It’s clear Becks doesn’t want to go, but he’s outnumbered.
He gives me a long look, and I can tell he senses something’s off with me, but he doesn’t know what. Eventually, he slowly nods. “Okay, I’ll go.”
“Good,” I say, but there’s nothing good about the feeling I get inside at the thought of him leaving.
Twenty-Five
BECKS
“So, you told Locklyn that there’s nothing serious going on between you and Haven.”
