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He shook his head. "Keep it. It'll get colder."
I was too tired to argue, so I shrugged it back around my shoulders.
"This way," Julian said, leading me off into the trees. I couldn't begin to imagine what it had taken to follow me, but he didn't hesitate as he held branches aside, guiding me confidently through the dark forest. The first time I stumbled—from roots or weariness, I wasn't sure—he put a stabilizing hand under my elbow. The second time, he pulled me up into his arms once again.
I was too tired to protest, so I simply leaned my head against his chest, his skin hot against my cheek, and let the steady beat of his heart lull me to sleep.
27
I dreamed of swirls of fire, of falling into darkness, of a chorus of voices harmonizing in foreign cadences. When I opened my eyes, I didn't know who I was, let alone where. Moonlight shone on the beams above my head, where bundles of dried herbs had been hung from nails. The air smelled of smoke and lavender. My body ached, my muscles burning, and abruptly I remembered. I sat straight up, rolling halfway out of Julian's bed. My legs hit something soft.
"Oof," said a voice.
I looked down at Theo, sprawled on a fur blanket on the floor beside the bed. He sat up, rubbing the side of his head. "Nice to have you back, unicorn."
His words were flippant, but I heard the deep worry in his voice, which was why I tumbled the rest of the way out of bed and folded myself into him. "Hi," I mumbled against his chest.
He pressed a kiss against the top of my head, his arms tight around me. "The next time you want to swim, we can just crash the country club, okay? No more freestyle diving."
I nodded, my cheek rubbing against the soft fabric of his shirt. "I'm sorry," I murmured, my eyes starting to sting. If Lilin had succeeded—if I'd died—"I didn't mean to."
"Hey." Theo hugged me tighter. "Don't apologize. This wasn't you. I know this wasn't you."
My chest was tight. I thought suddenly of my dad, alone in his apartment above the store, and the tears spilled over.
Theo's hand moved over my back, gently stroking. "It'll be okay," he murmured. "We're going to figure this out. We'll get it out of you." He paused. "Whatever it is."
I took a deep breath, pulling away from him, and wiped the tears from my eyes. "Theo," I said, meeting his gaze. "Whatever happens, promise me—" I choked a little. "Promise me you'll be the one to tell my dad, okay?"
Something shifted in his expression. His jaw tightened, and his eyes turned steely. "Don't talk like that."
Julian's words echoed in my mind. Four hundred and ninety four. He was centuries old, and even he didn't know what was going to happen, so how could I? "Please," I said. "Promise me."
Theo looked away. "I promise," he said at last. His voice was flat.
I squeezed his hands. "Thank you," I said quietly. Then I peered around the empty cabin. "Where are Luca and Julian?"
"Outside," Theo said. "They wouldn't stop talking."
I looked down. I was still wearing Julian's shirt, but I was no longer wearing any of my own garments. "Did you change my clothes?"
"You were all wet," he said. "I thought you'd wake up, but…” He trailed off.
I reached for his wrist and tapped the face of his watch. Nearly four in the morning. "You must be exhausted."
He shrugged. "I'm okay."
"No," I said, bracing myself on the bed and getting painfully to my feet. "You won’t be any help unless you’re rested.”
“Thanks a lot.”
I reached for my bag. “Come on. We're going back to the hotel."
Theo’s forehead crinkled. "Now?"
"Yes, now," I said firmly. "This has been a horrible night, and sleep deprivation isn't going to make it any better. Come on." I put a hand out.
Sighing, he took it and let me help him to his feet. "What about Luca?" he said.
