Page 72 of Hunted

“Sister!” Helen hissed. “Now isnotthe time.”

My cheeks reddened when I realized we had an audience. I sheepishly looked over at my grandmothers, who were all watching. Evie had a big smile on, Pepper had acheekygrin, and Helen looked like she was starting to get a bit desperate. Tallin, meanwhile, had his head buried in Evie’s arms and his paws covering his ears.

“Right…” I said, “The portal.” I looked up at Valerian. “You and I are going to settle—”

He cupped my cheek and kissed me then, lightly pressing his lips against mine. I heard Evie swoon. My heart surged, blood flushing into my chest and face. When Valerian gently pulled back, I found myself breathing against his mouth.

“Why did you do that?” I asked.

“I’m not sure… it felt right,” he said.

“My grandmothers are watching.”

“I… realize that… maybe we should, you know.”

“Get back to Arcadia before this portal closes and someone else has to give up something important?”

“Ideally.”

Valerian let me go, and I rushed over to my grandmothers, who were all waiting to embrace me at the same time. It was the largest, warmest hug I had ever experienced. I didn’t want it to end. It ended, however, when Tallin grumbled from somewhere inside the cuddle.

“Excuse me,” he said, “But I’m being squished again. Why does this keep happening to me?”

“Oops,” Evie said, retreating from the hug and rubbing Tallin’s furry head. “Sorry.”

“It’s time to go, dear,” Grandmother Helen said. “Just remember… whatever happens, you will always have our support.”

“I love you all,” I said, “So much.”

“And we love you also,” Pepper said. “Give them hell.”

“I will,” I said, backing away from my grandmothers and joining Valerian at the portal. He held his hand out, and I took it.

“We will see you soon, dear,” Helen called out, and I noticed a mischievous little sparkle in her eye.

“What was—”

“—time to go,” Valerian said, turning around and walking backwards toward the portal. He touched his hand to his forehead and gestured toward my grandmothers. “Thank you,” he said to them.

“Make sure she looks after you,” Helen said. “And don’t you dare hurt her…”

Valerian’s eyes widened as he reached the portal and fell into it. “That was terrifying,” he said, shuddering, his voice falling off as he moved between worlds.

I followed him, entering the bright circle of light, trying not to think about what we were going to find on the other side, or how we were going to fix any of this. I had thirteen days.

Already it didn’t feel like enough time.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Helen, Pepper, Evie, and Tallin all stood where they were, watching the portal shimmer and sparkle. Valerian and Amara had fallen through it, whisked away to Arcadia in a flash of light… and still, the portal remained.

Pepper produced her little book, inside of which was the sigil they would be able to use to get back home. “This will come in handy later,” she said, “After our return trip.”

“Do you think she suspects?” Evie asked.

“I don’t think so. She would have kicked up a fuss if she did.”

“That is why we could not tell her,” Helen said.