One More Step - Colleen Hoover Page 0,76

want to fill me in on what’s different about you and why a Lampir can’t figure out your scent?” Maddock pulled a chair over and sat down across from her.

“A Lampir?”

“My redheaded friend there.” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “He fed off your energy earlier, which is what caused you to pass out. You may still feel a little drowsy, but it will fade. I’m not sure how much time we have, so talk fast.”

“I don’t know anything about my scent, but remember the quanlier?” Callie carefully considered her words and all she had discussed with Evin, but her gut was telling her to trust Maddock. Ianthe trusted him, and he had helped them the last time she ran into him.

“Like I could forget the monster you two were tracking, especially after all that followed when I confronted Bronwen.” Callie knew there was more to that story, but this was the time for her to share, not him.

“Well, even the best of plans have flaws, and unfortunately while we hunted the quanlier, it hunted me— only it was faster.”

Maddock pressed a hand over hers when she paused, the memory of that night flashing through her mind. His eyes glowed orange as he saw her memories.

“Gods, Callie. I’m sorry.”

She smiled at him sadly, sneaking her hand out from under his. While his comfort was kind, it wasn’t his touch she wanted. “Well, as I lay bleeding out, Evin took matters into his own hands and summoned a Djinn who owed him a favor.”

“He used a wish to heal you?”

“Not exactly…”

Of course, at that moment Torin threw the door open. “I’m going to kill Angus,” he growled, slamming and locking the door in one quick move before turning his attention to her. Looking at Torin was like seeing a future version of Evin. He had the same caramel skin with the otherworldly Seelie shimmer and black hair—although, his was longer, pulled back in a ponytail and greying around the temples. His amber eyes softened as they took her in. “Hello again, dear.”

“Don’t kill Angus. It was my fault. Evin and I had a little disagreement, and I was trying to catch up to him. I shouldn’t have crossed over into Fae. I just wanted to apologize, and I wasn’t thinking about what could happen, which was really stupid of me—”

“I know, it’s okay. We’ll figure it out. Evin was just here but then left, I believe to return to you.”

“Of course he did.” She rubbed her forehead.

“I take it you know what’s going on with her then?” Maddock inquired since her explanation had been interrupted.

“I do,” Torin confirmed, much to Callie’s shock.

“Can you explain how she has inhuman speed and managed to summon a storm?” Maddock asked.

“I knew about the speed, but a storm? Can you really summon a storm?” His head whipped toward her, and his awed expression took her in with a whole new perspective, leaving her unsure how to answer.

“No!” she immediately retorted. Is that even possible? I already have Evin’s speed…could I really have summoned that storm? She remembered the wild magic coursing through her veins, echoing the heady feeling of the storm building around her. Her fingers itched, and her next words were barely above a whisper. “I don’t know.”

Torin turned back to Maddock. “Angus claimed she summoned a storm when he captured her, even had lightning strike a nearby tree. The only other Fae I know of that could control lightning was Reid,” Maddock stated, as if piecing it all together. “What did the Djinn do?”

Maddock’s question was a lifeline she clung to, pulling her from confusion into the known. “Now that I can answer. I was too far gone to use a wish, but she knew of an ancient spell to mix our blood and bind us together. She wasn’t sure of all the effects it would have on me. She knew it would extend my lifespan and that our lives would be bound, meaning if one of us is killed, the other will follow in death. Beyond that…it’s all guessing,” Callie explained. “But that’s not really the problem here. The problem is that if the Seelie king finds out who I am, it will blow Ianthe’s cover from when she was here last.”

“Aye, Evin and I also discussed that. However, I believe the Seelie king may already know more than any of us thinks he does. He’s not quite as aloof as he leads others to believe,” Torin replied. “Besides, our options

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