AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was my turn to smile, though the gesture felt odd and stiff. “If I do what I came here to do, you have no reason to be sorry. Believe me.”
“I do.”
I walked into the lobby in a daze, trying to process what I was seeing. The stage was whole and untouched. The chairs were all in neat rows, and a few cameramen were chatting in the press area while reporters typed up stories on their laptops.
Guests were checking into their rooms. Clerics were arriving in time to mingle with friends before all the panels and sessions got underway. Outside, the sun was warm and bright.
It was like nothing had happened.
Because nothing had happened yet, I reminded myself.
“We missed you at breakfast,” a light, cheery voice announced behind me.
I spun around and grabbed her, hauling her into the tightest hug imaginable. Sunny squirmed and giggled, pushing herself free of me, then placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Gods, Tallulah, you act like you haven’t seen me in a million years.”
I resisted the urge to hug her again. I just wanted to hold on to her and never let her go.
Cade was with her, and he held my gaze when he looked at me over Sunny’s head. His expression was soft, confused. I wasn’t sure what my face was saying, but it was probably too much.
Having her here, seeing her again, was a joy beyond expression. But looking at him I was reminded of the sacrifice I had to make in order to undo the future. I didn’t mind, really I didn’t. Yet knowing what I was setting myself up to lose hurt me all the same.
I smiled at him, but he wasn’t buying it. He knew me too well.
More than anything I wanted to tell them what was coming. I wanted to spill every secret, tell them minute by minute what horrors awaited. Maybe if I could scare them enough, none of them would show up tomorrow. But what then? Then someone else was sitting front row by the stage. Maybe a young initiate. Maybe someone with a baby.
Imelda was right. I couldn’t change their futures unless I changed the future. The only way for me to properly fix this would be cutting off the head of the beast before it struck. And since the car bomb was the thing that would set all the wheels in motion, I had until five p.m. to find the would-be killer and put a stop to his plan.
Sure. No problem. Easy as pie, right?
“What’s your schedule today?” Sunny looped her arm with mine, strolling towards the elevators like she didn’t have a care in the world. Like we weren’t living in the last twenty-four hours of her life.
We weren’t. Not anymore, I reminded myself.
Cade kept shooting me questioning glances, quiet looks of concern meant only for me. I gave my head a soft shake, trying to tell him I was fine. Everything was fine.
He didn’t say anything, but I don’t think he believed me.
“I have a bunch of really boring educational sessions today,?
? I lied. “And a few grievances.” I remembered how I’d spent the previous afternoon arguing with Lettie about wind. I tried to remember what had happened to her during the explosion, but I didn’t know.
The argument hardly seemed to matter anymore.
“I’m actually going to go grab a coffee before my first panel,” I announced. “You guys go ahead, don’t be late on my account. We’ll meet up for dinner later. Okay?”
I didn’t wait for their response, and instead headed straight for the Starbucks. Imelda was gone, the table she’d been at empty. I wondered what it must have been like for her knowing her future self had sent me back. Was she curious at all? Or was this such a normal part of her life she would forget about it by tonight?
I stood in front of the barista, barely registering the coffee options, when Cade sidled up next to me and stood the tiniest bit too close, his arm rubbing against mine.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.
“Nothing.” I said it too quickly, too loudly. Maybe I wasn’t such a good liar after all.
“You’re acting like a nutcase.” He ordered himself a coffee, then ordered the same for me when he realized I’d just been standing here the whole time. “Something has your feathers all ruffled. Is it the kid?”
“Sawyer?” My heart pulsed. I wish she was here so I could see her. I knew she was fine, but still, it would have been nice to confirm it with my own eyes, since my last memory of her was her caved-in skull and waxen skin. “No, it’s not Sawyer.”
I accepted my coffee from the barista, and before I could take a sip, Cade took in back from me, giving me a funny stare. He walked over to the service counter and added two sugars and a splash of cream before passing it back to me.
