I took a deep breath and willed myself to relax. “Sorry about that,” I said, unclenching my hands. “I just wanted to check on Adri.”
“I'm fine.” Adri's voice came from behind me, small and lost.
I turned. He sat, leaning heavily against the pillows, pale, but not as out of it. Unhappy, though. Maybe even guilty. For what? For not telling me?
I kneeled in front of him. “Sorry. I couldn’t shake the image of you lying on the floor. I had to get some air.” And clean the whole damn café. “Are you sure you’re fine?”
He opened his mouth, and I could tell he was going to say he was fine again.
I shook my head. “You’re not fine, Adri. You’re shaky, and I don’t think your skin is supposed to be this pale.”
I wanted to wrap him in my arms, but now was not the time.
Adri swallowed and leaned back. “I have a headache, and my system is still purging the effects of taking in glitchy energy.” He blinked and gazed at me. “But I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Good.”
And then I lost it. I buried my head in the couch and laughed until I could barely breathe. When I imagined everyone staring at me as if I’d lost my mind, I burst out laughing once more.
I’d kissed the fucking prince of Niren, and if we’d been alone, I’d have kissed him again.
Chapter Nineteen
ADRI
no more hiding
Nestled against the soft pillows of Layla’s couch, I held myself still as Sam laughed—nerves crackling through my system—my eyes down, so no one could see how I felt. I couldn’t see their reaction, either. What if they were laughing, too?
Laughing was better than being angry, even if I didn’t understand why. He mumbled, “Sorry,” a few times, in between breaths and hiccups, only to laugh again.
Someone pushed a glass of water into Sam’s hand.
“Get a grip, Sam.” Layla’s voice had a fierce edge to it. “You’re spooking our visitors. Not to mention Adri. He’s been through enough.”
Sam’s head jerked up, and he stared at me, wide-eyed, red splotches on his cheeks. His laughter fizzled out with coughs, heaves, and more hiccups. He tried to say something, but shook his head and sipped the water instead.
Someone pinged me. My family. Not a single ping, but a series of them. I hadn’t expected them to locate me so soon. It looked like the glitchy energy had interfered with my shieldingand rerouting. I sighed. If I didn’t answer, they’d keep pinging me until I did.
I rested my head against the pillows and opened the line.
::Chkchk. Finally,:: Min-Tess sent. ::Where have you been?::
My mins’ nickname made me smile more than ever, despite being nervous.
::What's going on?:: That was Min-Oliver, of course. ::We talked to Kin-Bertie, but he said he hadn’t seen you on the island after Frank and Kaia’s party.::
::I’m sorry.:: Even exhausted, sending didn’t take much energy. Being among humans all this time, having to talk, I’d forgotten how easy it was to send with my mins—no voice, no trying to figure out what an expression meant. Our feelings were clear in our energy exchange. ::The party was too much. Too loud. Someone handed me a card that led me here. I just wanted to be alone for a while.::
::You didn’t need to go through the effort of shielding and rerouting.::
::You were already scheduling more meetings for me at the engagement party.::
The line fell silent. I’d gone too far.
::We would not have forced you to come home, but we all have duties. You know this,:: he replied after a long time.
::I do. But?—::
