and with that, the line went silent.
***
The coordinates we were given led to a dilapidated cabin in a remote, wooded area, far outside the Capitol. Several times, we questioned Elle, wanting to be sure she had brought us to the right place.
No mistakes were made. We’d arrived at the exact location Corina requested.
We scanned the area, but spotted nothing—no vehicles, no movement. Just nature and the rickety old house that stood before us.
“Think she made a mistake?” Silas asked, leaning forward to get a better look through his window.
“Nope! There she is!” Elle practically leapt from her seat, bursting out through the driver-side door.
Somehow, she spotted Corina first, but the rest of us were out of our seats just as quickly now. We bounded toward the cabin when she emerged from behind it
“Mistress Corina!” Elle shouted. “You’re okay!”
The smile Corina wore stretched wide across her face as she embraced Elle in return. However, the rest of us stood guard, eyeing the one who stood beside her.
It only took a moment to sink in why we were all somewhat standoffish, especially considering how much she’d been missed, how sick we all were with worry.
Releasing Elle, Corina stood straighter before hesitantly gesturing toward the tall brunette.
“Guys, this is um … Paige.”
A set of crimson eyes flickered toward the three of us, and the mistrust in them only matched ours.
“Who are you?” The question left Julian’s mouth with dark undertones that told of his recent distress. Corina’s disappearance had taken a toll on each one’s measure of patience, manifesting in different ways.
For Julian, it had been evident in his short temper.
“I just told you,” Corina cut in.
She peered up at Julian, taking in his hardened expression. When her hand moved into his, and his gaze fell on her, it was clear the instant some of the stress from the last couple days fell away.
“It’s okay,” she assured him, only conveying love and understanding with the look she gave.
Finally having the chance to greet us properly, she started with Julian. Both arms encircled his neck and the tension he’d carried in his shoulders was nearly nonexistent now. She held him for a moment, before moving toward Si. He’d been the most level-headed of our trio, like usual, but even he had gotten beside himself with worry a time or two. That was evident now, as he squeezed her tightly.
And then, she came to stand before me, and the slight curve of her smile brought one out of me, too, before lifting her off her feet with a hug. Light laughter fluttered against my ear and the relief I felt holding her again was unmatched.
“I’m not letting you go,” I teased, speaking the words against her skin.
“Well, you’ll have to, but only for a little while. There’s somewhere I need to take you,” she informed me. “Someone I need you to meet.”
My brow tensed as I lowered her again.
“Someone?” I asked, seeking clarity.
She pushed dark strands behind both ears. “Remember that part where I asked you all to be openminded?” she uttered. “Well, this is where that’s going to be needed.”
Something about this didn’t feel right, but it was hard to grasp anything negative with how relieved I was to be laying eyes on her again.
“I just need you guys to trust me,” she added, unwittingly using her charms against us. Or, then again, it may have been completely intentional.
After speaking, she passed a leery gaze toward this new friend she arrived with—Paige.
“Fine,” Julian spoke up. “Get in and we’ll take you wherever you want.”
“Thanks, but … I’ve got a bike,” she replied, aiming a thumb over her shoulder. She was pointing in the direction of the cabin she’d just been standing near.
Julian’s brow tensed again and the stare-down between them was unnerving. Of the three of us, he was most inclined to object to Corina’s extreme independence. But not because he longed to control her, but rather because he seemed to live with the fear that if she strayed too far from his side, she’d break. Silas and I, on the other hand, had seen her handle herself. Me, while we were away at Blackthorn. Silas, when they stupidly weaseled their way inside the Tine Facility.
“Fine,” Julian sighed, the rims of his nostrils flaring with that one word.
He said nothing else to her in parting, just simply trudged back toward the car. I felt torn, and Silas seemed to as well. The most I could do was offer Corina a reassuring smile before we