Page 31 of Find My Way Down to You

Face warm, I say, “Thank you?”

Aminta scrolls through a tablet in her hand. “We need to go, my prince. You have…appointments.”

“Can they not wait?”

Aminta’s eyes cut in my direction. They’re a deep green like her hair, narrowed. “Unfortunately, no.”

Funny, there’s not a drop of remorse in her tone.

A thin smile stretches Milos’s mouth. “Fine. I suppose we all have our roles.” Briefly, his gaze shifts over to Cary. “I trust you know how to see him back?”

Henri steps up. “What? Our resident historian?” He pats Cary’s shoulder. “Of course he does!”

Milos’s eyes don’t stray from his brother. Tension rolls through Cary’s jaw before he nods.

“Good. Do so.”

It’s a command, not a request from Milos.

Cary doesn’t argue.

Milos gives me a final smile. “I look forward to getting to know you more, August.”

My eyes widen. Foolishly, I say, “Um, me too.”

Henri doesn’t bother hiding his chuckle.

I stare at Milos’s back as he leads Aminta and the guards to the other side of the room. They exit through a door I can’t see but hear as it clicks shut.

When my lungs finally remember how to breathe, I twist toward Henri. “Why can’t you take me back?”

Smiling apologetically, Henri says, “That is beyond my abilities.”

Great. Here I am, in a strange place that shouldn’texist. With people who are all frighteningly gorgeous and apparently have powers. And the one boy whocantake me home looks like he’d rather eat his own face.

“Cheer up!” Henri points at Cary. “At least if he kills you, you can hang out here permanently.”

His laughter echoes in the room long after he’s gone.

Silence fills the air. For a beat, I keep my back to Cary, thinking. Counting the exasperated breaths he lets out. Afterthe fourth one, I spin on my heel to face him. His detached expression is unbearable.

I bite my lip. “How do we do this?”

Instead of answering, Cary walks to the elevator. His eyes say,I will leave without you, when I don’t immediately follow.

I don’t risk calling his bluff.

He doesn’t bother holding the doors for me, so I leap inside. “Thanks!” I grunt. Throwing myself against a wall, I cross my arms. “Are we going back to the beach?”

“No.”

“The bridge?”

Cary stares straight ahead, silent.

“Are you always this chatty?” I huff.

“Obviously you are.”