backpack. “The devices stopped blinking, so I brought them all back here. Hope they did what you wanted.”
“Thanks,” Ivar said, taking the pack. “We think we can use these to figure out if the worlds are going to collide. Maybe even when it’ll happen.”
“Good.” Quade reached for the second pack and drew out a granola bar. “What the hell is this?”
“My mate told me two of us couldn’t make it back in the wormhole, so I brought provisions for whoever stayed. I trust her,” Ivar said. He’d known, deep down, that both Promise and Quade were correct in that he couldn’t take Quade’s place right now. Not this time.
Quade twisted the bar around. “All right. What is this?” he repeated.
“Food,” Ivar said. “I packed as much as I could. The blood is good and labeled. Use the human first.” He had to keep Quade alive until they could figure out the bubble worlds. “The plastic weapons should help too.” He drew out an album. “Here’s a history of the world along with photographs of your family.” He handed it over.
Quade’s dirty hands shook as he gingerly flipped open the front page.
Ivar ignited a ceramic lantern and handed it over. “Next to Ronan in that picture is his mate.”
Quade nodded and looked through the pictures, taking one of Haven Daly out. “I haven’t talked to her in a while. Used to, but not for a while. You left her alone.”
“Yes.”
Blinding light burst into the cavern, and Ivar jumped, spinning around to face the threat.
“It’s morning,” Quade said wearily, shoving himself to his feet. “I have to run now. So do you. The next fire will come shortly. Get out first.” He yanked Ivar close for a hard hug. “Stay safe, Viking.”
“We’re going to save you,” Ivar vowed. Now that he’d left Quade with some provisions, he’d figure out a path where two people could travel home. Or Promise would find it with these new readings. “Are you sure you have to stay?”
“Yes. There’s no other way.” Quade studied him and then nodded. “Good to know you, brother.” Setting the picture down gently, he turned and leaped out of the cave.
Well, shit. Ivar looked around. Okay. He had facts to report to Promise as well as the silent devices from the 3D printer. Hopefully they hadn’t been broken. The forest had lost half of its trees in the time he’d been gone. The sky had stayed open longer, and the ocean had appeared closer. But for now, Quade was safe. And Ivar had news about Haven. Somehow she’d communicated with Quade? If so, she was the answer to this problem.
Ivar moved to the edge of the cave and looked down. Two yellow-fanged animals with bright blue fur crossed each other, jumping up and falling down the cliff. One spotted him and howled, even its purple eyes looking hungry. Ravenous. He removed his protective clothing for Quade to have, even leaving the face gear. His jeans and thin T-shirt were all he needed. Thinking for a moment, he toed off his boots and socks.
Then he readjusted his aim, corrected for a new twist if the thing was still changing, and tried to jump into the wormhole.
He hit a rock-hard wall, his ears ringing as he fell back into the cave. The wormhole was closed. Gone. Destroyed. He chuckled, blood bubbling off his lips. Promise’s math had been correct.
Well. Good thing they’d mated. This math, he could do now. He ducked his head, worked out the equations in his brain, and jumped in a different direction.
Chapter Forty-Three
Promise paced along the lake as rain splattered down, soaking her T-shirt. Ivar was gone. The math had correctly predicted that the wormhole would close. She just knew it. She also knew he’d find a way home, because he’d promised he would. She bit her lip, muttering to herself, fully aware that Faith and Emma watched her from a window. Yes, she looked like a crazy person.
If the wormhole had closed, how the heck would he get home? The spray of water on the lake caught her attention. One drop, many ripples. Mathematical equations ripped through her head. That was it.
Turning, she ran right into Mercy. She hadn’t heard the Fae approach and grabbed her arms. “I can’t feel him.” Panic grabbed her and tried to shoot through the solution in her brain. “Anywhere. I can’t sense him, Mercy.”
Mercy let the rain fall on her face. She paled until her freckles stood out. “I’m sorry.”