Page 40 of Twist of Fate

Connal moved into his space, placing himself between Luke and the watching crowd despite the effort it cost him. “They observe,” Connal said.

“Yeah. I noticed.”

Connal sagged toward him. Luke caught his arm before he could stumble.

“We need to get you somewhere you can sit down.”

“I do not require⁠—”

“You’re about three seconds away from falling over.”

Connal’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t pull away.

Around them, the preparations continued. Fae hurried past carrying flowers, fabric, and trays of food as though Luke and Connal hadn’t just escaped a magical trap.

“They’re still planning that mating feast.”

“Yes.”

“No one is celebrating anything until you can stand on your own.” Luke tightened his hold when Connal swayed again.

The feast preparations made one thing clear—everyone expected Luke to stay. Even temporarily, he couldn’t make that choice as though no one outside this realm would be affected.

“And if you expect me to remain here while we sort this out, Gomez comes too.”

Connal went still.

“My best friend,” Luke explained. “He was hurt before you found me, and right now he probably thinks I disappeared or died.”

Luke pictured Gomez alone in their apartment, still supposed to be recovering and constitutionally incapable of sitting quietly once Luke stopped answering. He would start calling hospitals, then airports, then people Luke very much did not want asking questions. If those failed, Gomez would try to find Luke himself.

Keeping him outside the problem would no longer keep him safe.

Connal’s brothers listened from behind them. Luke didn’t care. If they expected him to remain in this place, they needed to understand what that required.

“He has no one else,” Luke continued. “He’s my family. My brother in every way that matters. I won’t stay without him.”

Connal studied him through eyes that had begun to lose their focus. “You would not abandon him.”

“No.”

“Then he must be—” Connal’s voice broke off.

The tension holding his body upright gave way all at once. His knees buckled, and Luke caught him before he struck the floor.

“Yeah, no.” Luke tightened his grip as Connal’s full weight settled against him, but there was no chance he could carry Connal through the castle alone. He looked toward the brothers. “I need help. Get him to his room and find someone who understands what that magic did to him.”

A tiny face appeared between the strands of one brother’s long, dark hair. The pixie took one look at Connal and shot down the corridor, leaving a trail of sparks behind her. The largest of the three brothers stepped forward. His features most closely resembled Connal’s, making the concern tightening his expression easy for Luke to recognize. He lifted Connal with startling ease.

Luke remained beside them, keeping one hand wrapped around Connal’s wrist.

Connal forced his eyes open. “Luke.”

“I’m here.”

Some of the strain left Connal’s face, but his eyes closed again before they reached his chamber.

The castle opened a path for them, altering the corridor until a door appeared ahead. Luke had no idea how the place knew where they needed to go, and he was too focused on Connal to wonder.