“God, no,” I reply quickly, the idea catching me off guard.
Bewildered, she looks me up and down. “I would do anything for you. You were my light at Grimhill,” she says, her voice thick with emotion.
Silence falls between us as we simply stare at each other. There’s so much I wanted to say to her if I ever saw her again, but now that she’s right in front of me, the words are lost on me,my mind empty.
“Author, huh?” I finally manage.
She laughs, the sound clinging like beautiful bells in my ears.
“We need somewhere to lay low for a while until we can figure things out.”
She nods, concern written all across her face that hides beneath her happy façade. “I know a place.”
Turning, she addresses the man behind her, his face an unreadable mask.
“This is Naya,” she murmurs, and his eyes flicker with recognition at my name. His features soften, not as murderous as before—god, that man is intense.
Everlee reaches out her hand, and I take it, my heart warming at the gesture.
“Come,” she says, leading us out of the bookstore, with Grey following close behind.
The man with her guides us through the building and to a metal door that creaks as he opens it. He doesn’t speak as we walk, only taking us farther into a small garage with about ten cars, stopping at a green-black jeep.
A sensation of unease settles over me, realizing how much trust we’re placing in this man we don’t know. He could be taking us to kill us for all I know. But I do know Everlee, and I trust her more than anything.
He unlocks the car and lets us settle in the backseat.
“I will be back in a couple of minutes with Everlee,” he grumbles, closing the door behind us as he walks back into the store with Everlee in tow.
We sit in a comfortable silence that feels like an eternity before we see Everlee approaching the car, laughing at something the man says. She looks happy, and I can’t help the pang in my chest.
While she has built a life, doing something meaningful tohelp others, I have been stuck—at Dankworth Institute and the Dollhouse. Captured, broken, tortured, fucking ruined. It twists something deep inside me to think about it, and I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t help the jealousy.
They both settle into the car, and then we’re driving off into an uncertain future, the weight of our pasts, heavy in the thickened atmosphere.
Chapter 26
Naya
The scent of briskleaves lingers in the twilight air, mingling with the distant hum of traffic as the car moves forward with a bump across the gravelly road. We’ve been driving for hours, and my body is aching for the need to stretch out—sore from the cramped space we’ve been cooped up in.
An uncomfortable silence has settled thickly in the car, making me want to fling open the door and jump out as we speed down the highway. The tension coils tighter with each second, especially under the dark gaze of the driver, who keeps shooting glances at me through the rearview mirror. His jaw is clenched in clear frustration—Draven, as Everlee introduced him ten minutes into the drive, much to his dismay.
The way he keeps looking at me, his knuckles bone-white from gripping the steering wheel, makes it painfully obvious we’re not welcome here. I fidget in the back seat, my leg bouncing restlessly.
Home—Everlee had said.
I’m no longer sure what that word even means.
Lost in thought, I barely notice when the car swerves off the highway and onto a gravel road. The forest envelops us on both sides, its trees losing their vibrant green color, transforming into a flurry of orange. Rain pours down outside, leaving the car splashing water against its sides as we continue. I stare in wonder, the forest stretching endlessly and creating a sense of isolation.
When the car finally pulls to a stop in front of a larger cottage, my eyes are immediately drawn to its unique, triangular shape.The walls are black, adorned with dark green accents that help it blend into the surrounding nature. Like taken out of a fairytale, I’m breathless as I stare captivated at the beauty before me.
“We’re here,” Draven murmurs, gently shaking Everlee awake, her head leaning against the window.
Grey looks out the window, biting his lip while scrutinizing the place. As if every place is a danger, he meticulously observes them, making sure no stones are left unturned. Getting out of the car, Draven opens the door for Everlee as she sleepily steps out, nearly stumbling. He’s there, catching her, and the look in his eyes softens when he meets hers, far from the persona he’s shown us earlier.
Both Grey and I exit the vehicle at the same time, hands finding each other’s within seconds. Together, we take in the cottage looming before us. It’s far from civilization, much like Grimhill Manor and the dollhouse were, surrounded by an eerie forest that called to you at nights, wanting to lure you in. Only this forest feels safer—much more cozy, somehow. The birds chirp in the distance, creating a symphony that I could listen to for hours.
