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“That doesn’t mean he likes me. I think he just feels obligated to take care of me because we’re Tethered.”
“Ah, yeah. That thing. Mum told me all about it. Still, it’s true. He hates being touched.” Juniper stretches her arms above her head, then winces and clutches her ribcage, a reminder of her pain. “That woman from the fight cracked my rib good. That bitch.”
“I don’t understand why they were making you and Killian fight.”
“Because the Rippies are pieces of shit,” she growls, and she cuts her eyes at me before sighing. “It’s what they do when they catch people from Blackwater out of their territory. It’s their way of degrading us before they…kill us.”
“They were going tokillyou and Killian?” I gasp.
“Of course they were. Right after they’d gotten what they wanted, which was rubies and gold from our fights. Rami figured with two people from Caz’s clan gone, Caz would struggle to get us back and wouldn’t enter Ripple Hills unless he had an army. This would’ve started a war, and Caz’s goal is tonothave them because he hates them. Rami would do that though. He’d push Caz to his limit, try to break him so that Caz will start one. And if Caz started it and killed a shit ton of Rippies—which he’s done in the past—Rami would run to The Council and cry over the damage, then Caz would pay for it with his rubies. It was all anumbers game to Rami. He was a terrible monarch who didn’t care how many Rippies actually died as long as he got paid. He was a bloody idiot. Always underestimating Caz.”
“Yeah. They asked Caz for rubies in exchange for you and Killian.”
Juniper scoffs. “Sure, they wanted rubies, but that’s not all they wanted. Their plan was to lure him there, in hopes that they could string him up and get him in the cage to fight too. I heard them talking about it. They were going to make him fight, make as much profit as possible, then set us free, just so Caz could come back with an army and start a war. But that’s the last thing Caz will ever do again—fight.” She shudders as if remembering something. “I’m surprised he even went to the ring to help us.”
“What do you mean? He had to save you.”
She pins her eyes on me, then shakes her head. “Never mind.” I want her to elaborate, but someone clears their throat.
“Are we ready?” Caz’s voice floats through the kitchen. When I look back, he’s standing by the window, his leather-clad fingers crossed in front of him, as if he’s been there for quite some time now. He’s put on a black trench coat and the same black cap from the first day I met him is pulled over his brows, creating a shadow over his eyes.
“Sure.” I climb off the stool, carrying my plate to the sink.
“So, you’re leaving Vakeeli for good?” Juniper questions.
“I hope so.” I feel a thump in my chest, and Caz shifts on his feet.
“Well, it was nice getting to know you for the short time I did.” She smiles and climbs off her stool to hug me.
I hug her back, then turn to Caz who has cleared his throat again, clearly wanting us to end the farewells. I’m not family or a friend to him. I’m just a woman in his way.
“I have the chant here,” he says, holding a sheet of paper in the air. “Seeing as I can’t take you there, to the portal whereyou’ll return, Killian will guide you to the forest and send you off. I made sure this was a one-way chant. One that will send you home so that you can’t return to Blackwater, or any of the Vakeeli territories, for that matter.”
I walk to him, taking the paper and clutching it in my hand. My eyes don’t leave his.A one-way chant? Why?
“This way,” he says, leaving the kitchen and ignoring the telepathic question.
I follow him out, waving once more at Juniper who blows a kiss at me before I step around the corner. Caz pulls the front door open and leads the way out. The air is salty and cool, and the wind nips at my cheeks. The leaves of the trees sway with the breeze, and as I take a few more steps out, Silvera runs across the field to me.
I smile as I drop to one knee and rub her head. “You’ll look after her?” I ask, pointing my gaze to Caz.
“Yes.”
I look back down at her and sigh. “I wish I could get to know you more.”
She pants, sitting on her hind. I don’t expect her to understand, so I give her one more rub on her head, a scratch behind the ears, and then follow Caz down the rocky path leading to the forest.
Once he passes the gates, he stops and says, “This is as far as I go.”
Killian is ahead, leaning against the trunk of a tree, using a knife to slice into a piece of bumpy-looking fruit. He pushes off the tree and walks off, and I assume I’m meant to follow him, so I turn to Caz and say, “Thank you for…getting me a way back home.”
Caz steps back and nods, his hands clasping behind him. “Take care of yourself, Willow Woman.” He looks me overtwice, gaze lingering, before his throat bobs and he turns away, focusing on his house instead.
It’s all I’ll get, and I won’t ever see him again. It’s like our kiss didn’t even happen. None of the time we spent together ever happened. It’s all a wrap, and I get to go home.
I don’t know why that thought pains me, but I accept his cold farewell and follow Killian into the forest. I fight every urge to look back, but something deep inside me begs me to turn back and go to him. I won’t go running, but I do look.
Before a line of trees can cut off my view of him, I peer over my shoulder, and Caz is standing in the same spot, only he’s not looking at the mansion anymore; he’s looking at me.
