Page 87 of Find My Way Down to You

“We’ll be having a talk about this later,” she says to Cary. “But not now. The prince sent me to check on his honored guest.”

Fear snaps my spine straight.

“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word,” Poppy says with a sly smile, and my posture slowly loosens.

Cary chews on his lip. I read the swirl of mildnervousness and a hint of shyness and soft relief in his eyes. He looks almost…human.

“Maybe it’s time you return August to the mortal realm?” Poppy suggests. “He’s been here longer than he should.”

Worry streams through my blood. I don’t have my phone. No way of contacting Max or my parents. Have they noticed? Panicked?

I pull at my curls. “How long? Will anyone back home know?”

“I told you,” Cary says gently, “time works differently here. A lot slower. You have nothing to fear. No one will know.”

“Go,” Poppy says. “I’ll make up a story for Milos.”

Cary nods. “Thanks, Poppy.”

She flicks his nose. “I want details, sweet ferrier.” Her stare trails over me one more time. “All of them.”

Over her shoulder, she blows me a kiss, gold glitter from her lipstick floating on the wind. “Goodbye, August!”

We walk toward the lake in silence, but the aftermath of our kiss flickers like a flame catching sparks anytime our hands brush. It’s weirdly confusing how light my body feels. The waves inside me quieted.

Cary’s mouth is pursed as if a thousand words are trying to push their way out. I want to hear every single one.

On the lake’s shore, I stop him. “When will I see you again?”

His eyebrows lower. “Again?”

I nod, hopeful in ways I shouldn’t be.

A long beat passes between us. I recognize the pinched corners of his eyes. The hesitation pulling at his jaw.

“You can’t,” I whisper, sour disappointment gathering in my throat like bile.

“I only have moments, August,” he replies. “I cannot—” He looks away.

“Then give me that,” I say, too wired and overwhelmed by today to be ashamed. To give up this fight.

The lake sings softly. Light dances off its gentle waves and reflects onto Cary’s face. His mouth slips into a smile, gorgeous as sunrise.

“Has anyone ever said how stubborn you are?”

“Many,” I grin out. “Give me a moment, Lord Cary.”

He laughs. It’s the noise of morning birds. The music of fairy tales.

“Fine, fine. I will try. For you, August.”

I wake up in a haze. Sheets tangled around my legs. Moonlight dusts the room a pale ivory.

My bedroom.I’m back home.

When I blink, there’s fuzziness behind my eyes. A thin fog I can’t quite see through. I stretch lazily, not sure where my phone is. What time it is. A draft teases along my belly from where my T-shirt has ridden up.

Shocked, my eyes look down.