Page 46 of Storm Caller

I thought I loved him. A few weeks ago, I was falling in love with him, but then everything changed, and now I don’t know what to think. It would be foolish to give him my heart until I’m absolutely certain I understand who he is.

“Remember that I told you I’d protect you no matter what,” he says more seriously now, his voice rough. “Just remember that. No matter what happens next, remember those words. And if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, then . . .” He trails off and shrugs.

“Okay,” I answer, just as a yawn cracks out of my mouth.

“How long have you been sitting here?” he asks.

“Hours?” I say. “I wonder when they’ll come for us.”

“If I know my dad, they’ll probably be talking all night.”

“Is it a problem that she’s here? You said this place was a secret.”

“I honestly don’t know,” he says.

“Your dad didn’t seem that surprised to see her,” I say. “Or that worried about it.”

At that, Rook’s eyebrows draw together, several thoughts passing over his expression. “And she didn’t say what she wanted?”

“She came for us, but your dad shut it down quickly.”

“People must be losing their minds,” Rooks says. “The Shield isn’t supposed to know about Cloudspire. This is supposed to be a safe place.”

“Your dad also seemed to know the general. I got the sense they’d met before.”

Rook shakes his head as though he doesn’t understand, and something about that sets off alarm bells in my head. High Commander Athira probably harbors many secrets, even from those closest to him.

Rook lies back, opening his arms. “You look exhausted. Will you lie with me?”

I hesitate for only a second before I kick off my boots and crawl in beside him with my back to his chest. He wraps his arms around me, and I breathe in his clean scent. Despite the fight with his dad, he still smells just like Rook.

“You belong with me, Poet. I know you aren’t sure of that yet, but I am,” he mumbles. Then he buries his nose into my hair, and I listen as he falls asleep, his breathing turning soft and even. I lie awake, blinking in the dark, wondering if I’ll ever really belong anywhere again.

16

When my eyes open, I’m not sure how long I’ve been out. Eventually, I drifted off, and I’ve lost all sense of time without daylight. Rook is curled around me in the tiny bed, his big body warming me up from the inside out. I snuggle deeper into him. We might not be in the same place we were the night of the graduation ball, but wherever we are feels right.

He didn’t know about Raine. He didn’t lie about that.

It was all just an unfortunate coincidence.

Knowing that softens the hard-edged worry that’s been lodged in my gut.

It’s relief. A chance to come back.

“Morning,” he murmurs, and I look up to find him watching me.

“Hi,” I say. “How did you sleep?”

“Amazing,” he answers. “One of the most formative things I learned at Amery is how much better I sleep with you beside me.”

My cheeks flush at the sincerity in his tone. “Same,” I reply, and he smiles. “How are you feeling?”

“A bit sore,” he says, stretching his neck. “But I’ll live.”

“Glad to hear it,” comes a voice from the door, where both of Rook’s parents stand. I let out a sharp squeak and try to scramble off the bed, but Rook’s strong arm holds me in place. His mom is beaming, while his dad gauges me with a wary eye.

“How are you doing?” Faroe asks, crossing the room and touching Rook’s cheek.