“It wouldn’t have mattered. I won’t run away.”
“You did before,” he said softly, reminding her of the time she tried to run away during the choosing ceremony.
“I was scared. I wasn’t supposed to be here, in this world in the past. I was on a mission to save my family, and the shoes didn’t give me a choice on when I went back.”
“But you didn’t save them. You failed.”
“No, I did. I saved them. But you took them away from me one by one. And I won’t fail the only family I have left.”
“Why is family so important to you?”
“Why isn’t it to you? I know that your parents cared about you in their own demented way. When I lost the Grimoire, your mother demanded that I do everything in my power to save you.”
“You lie. They tried to destroy me.”
“Yes, but they didn’t intend to. They were terrified, and what they did was wrong. But how is what you’re doing now to me any different?”
“You did even worse. You betrayed me, played me for a fool.” He leveled his gaze at the water, refusing to make eye contact.
“I was willing to give up everything for you. I chose you.”
“No, you chose Jared,” he snapped.
“He’s you! I wish I’d never said his name. It was—he was—always just a part of you that I love. You are one and the same, Teague. I’ve gotten past his name, can you?”
“You tried to kill me.”
“Actually, despite everything you’ve done to me over the years, I tried to save you.” Mina reached out to touch the area above his heart. “I’m still trying, and maybe one day you’ll realize that.”
Teague’s eyes were cloudy, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of his anger or the setting sun. Either way, Mina was emotionally exhausted. She hadn’t seen Annalora leave, which meant she was still somewhere within earshot.
Mina waited, and when he didn’t say anything else, she assumed it mean she was free to go. She moved away, and he called her name.
She stopped and took in his profile, his dark hair, and deep blue eyes. “Yes?”
“If you ever try to run away…” He pointed across the bridge and waved his hand. One of the Reapers appeared in the middle of the bridge. “You won’t get far.”
Every time she thought she might be gaining ground and earning his trust and understanding, he would resort to his insecurities and threaten her. She so longed for him to see that she wouldn’t lie to him. She only wanted him to be happy and her family and friends to be safe. If that meant staying, then she didn’t want to escape.
His warning sent chills down her spine but irritated her just as much. She held her head high and leveled her gaze at Teague. “I won’t.”
She wasn’t sure, but she thought he looked relieved by her promise. This time, he let her go without stopping her, and she went back into the palace. Annalora stood on the top step.
“You’re still here? I thought you got scared of little old me and ran away.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
“You should be,” Annalora answered.
“Is that a threat?”
“It doesn’t have to be if you just leave.”
“Not happening.”
“Then I’ll just have to get rid of you.”
“Good luck with that.” Mina tossed the words over her shoulder and headed back to her room.
This time when she got to her cell, she closed the door and pushed a table in front of it. She could put up a big front with Annalora, but she really was scared the girl would try and murder her in her sleep.
***
The next day, Mina worked in the library. This room had been relatively untouched from the trauma of the war. Only dust showed that no one had disturbed it for years. Mina found solace in the quietness, knowing Annalora would never be caught dead in here. Today more Fae lights swirled and danced around the room, carrying feathers. Mina laughed as they dusted the top shelves and it rained down on her. Though it did make her sneeze.
The sound entertained the Fae lights, so more and more of them brushed the dust toward her. In a bout of silliness, Mina threw her hands up in the air and danced as she tried to avoid the falling dust motes. Until she bumped into a shelf and knocked over a few precariously stacked books.
“One day you’re cleaning the kitchen and redecorating my throne room, and the next you’re destroying my library. What did books and Stories ever do to you?” Teague teased.
Mina threw him a disgusted look.
“Oh wait, never mind,” Teague caught himself in his own joke and started laughing hard.
Mina couldn’t help but crack a smile. But she laughed even harder when the Fae lights accidentally swept a pile of accumulated dust off the shelves and right onto his head.
Teague reached up to brush it off and looked at his dirty hands. “What the…?” He glared up at the lights, who scattered and hid within the bookshelves.
“Don’t get mad. They’ve been trying so hard to help.”