6

~Vaela

Will and Eyla walk apprehensively behind us, fumbling through the shadows toward the entrance to Hale's home.

"Boyfriend?" Amusement is laced tauntingly in Hale's voice as he walks closely in front of me.

"I know you heard..." I mutter under my breath. "Ex."

"Interesting." There is endless alternative meanings laced in his tone that I'm not going begin unpacking.

I glare at his back. "Shh…"

We emerge into the main area, my feet leading me to the fireplace. Eyla and Will collectively gasp upon entry, taking in the space. I imagine they considered a far more nefarious spaces for a Pureblood to live in.

Still, both of them edge away from Hale, coming to stand around me by the fire.

"Thank you, Hale, for looking after Vaela," Eyla mutters timidly, lowering her gaze, intimidated by his presence alone. I wonder whether she still wants to marry a Pureblood after seeing him? As attractive as he is, it's obvious she thinks he's moments away from murdering her.

"She made it very clear that it was my fault that she accidentally fell into a mortal pool." Hale looks toward me, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

I smile. "Don't worry about it."

Eyla looks between us, reading the situation with her disturbingly keen eye. "Inside jokes already."

I turn away, hiding my mouth behind my hand. Joking with Hale is the only thing lightening my mood right now, considering both Will and Eyla are still trying to wrap their heads around my mortality. I can't blame them, watching them both watching Hale as if he's about to strike.

"Like I said, we should be leaving now," Will grumbles, sidling up next to me like he's staking a claim.

Hale rests against the far wall, hands seated in his pockets. "Still unsure what your plan is once you make it back down to the immortal realm with Vaela."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. It's not like I can stay here forever," I find myself saying.

Forever is a long time. Maybe not to a mortal, but to a Pureblood, that's infinite. Forever for me may just be a few more moments, or perhaps fifty more years. I can't gamble on Hale not tiring of me in that time.

"And you would rather stay locked in your home with no hope of ever escaping until something eventually kills you?" He questions, angling his head.

I cross my arms over my chest. "What do you suggest I do instead then?"

"Stay here, until we find a way to safely bring you back to immortality." He says it so calmly, it's almost sweet. It must translate to the rest of the room, because I feel Will tense, grip on me tightening.

"Not happening," Will grits out.

"What about us? We are her friends," Eyla notes.

"I think surviving trumps friendships," Hale responds.

"You seriously want me to stay with you?" Does he expect to get something out of me? He hasn't made any blatant attempts to seduce me, so surely that's not it. Are Purebloods even capable of caring about others? What about Sins, specifically?

"I'm curious about how all of this will turn out." He shrugs, like it means nothing. My eyes narrow suspiciously.

"We will find her a Gaze Reader," Will mutters.

He winds his fingers through mine, a possessive act for Hale to see. I'm not sure what Will thinks is going to come from this. Even if he's trying to protect me, I hope he doesn't presume that I'm going to get back together with him after all of this.

I ended it months ago, and I'm not looking back.

Hale's gaze is pinned to Will's hand around mine, an amused smile playing on his lips.

"Do you know how rare they are? None of us know anyone who has contact with a Gaze Reader," I remind everyone.

I've only read about Gaze Reader's and their magical powers. They are able to look into someone's gaze and read their past, and aspects of their future. If anyone could tell us where to go to find true help, it would be a Gaze Reader.

"What about…" Eyla glances at Hale, who quirks a brow.

"Don't look at me," he shrugs. He's clearly entertained, watching us scramble to find a way to save my life. He knows there is no chance for us anywhere other than with him, and he is patiently waiting for us to figure that out.

"Come on Vaela. We can get answers. It's the only way." Hale tugs on my hand, starting toward the cave exit.

I glance at Hale, conflicted. My house has a fireplace too, and my own bedroom. If I truly am to banished to one place until we can find another solution, then surely my own home is the better option.

But this feeling, settling over my shoulders like I heavy weight suggests I'm making a mistake.

"Alright. Let's go then," I grumble regardless. No excuse I can conjure up will convince Eyla and Will it's better for me to stay up here. And Eyla is my best friend, she loves me, and Will, although my ex, will care for me.

Hale is a Sin. The Immortal Prince. He's a wild-card.

"Don't slip on the way down," Hale exclaims sweetly.

Eyla and Will head to the door, but I pause in front of him. "Thank you Hale...Seriously. Thank you for helping me when you could have left me out there to die."

He exhales, any amusement in his expression vanishing, replaced instead by conflict. He looks toward Will and Eyla, who watch on warily.

Finally he sighs, reaching out. "Take my hand."

I stare down at his bare skin, unnerved. There is no way I'm going to touch a Pureblood. It's not based on any evidence that something terrible will happen, it just seems like a good idea for self-preservation.

"Why?"

"I'll take you home." He clearly can't be bothered to hide his reluctance. He thinks this is going to go poorly, and he might be right.

"You don't have to do that-"

"As if I trust these two to get you down the mountain." Hale gestures at Eyla and Will. Eyla has the sense to laugh breathily, self-aware.

Will scowls. "We will manage."

When I turn to Will, Hale grabs my forearm, his touch searing through me, despite my coat. I flinch back, but his grip is firm, keeping me still. I'm not underestimating his strength, not when there is no possible way for me to remove myself from his grasp unless he wants to release me.

"Not happening. I'm not letting you get hurt," he says lowly, looking down at me, eyes darkening bitterly.

"You don't even know where I live," I remind him.

"I'm sure I can figure it out," he mutters.

Still gripping me, Hale reaches out and grabs Eyla, encouraging her to hold Will's hand. The moment their skin touches, the world around us disappears, falling away into nothing but darkness.

My heart plummets, a scream getting caught in my throat as it feels as I'm falling down an endless hole, eternity ready to swallow me.

And then my feet touch ground, pavement.

Hale let's go of me, and I sway, slowly opening my eyes. We are standing in front of my home, magic having swept us down the mountain and straight into the village.

"Woah..." Steadying myself, I look around, confirming that I really am home.

Frankly, my home looks sad, sitting here, buried under snow. It appears so cold suddenly, vacant. There was something so intimate about Hale's home, even with it being in a cave.

Hale scans the street. "Get inside, quickly.."

We waste no time, wading through the snow laden path that leads up to my front door. If Hale is unimpressed by my lack of wealth, he doesn't note it, as we step inside the frigid space.

"Nice place. Can't wait to spent the rest of your life in it?" Hale watches me wander in, staying at the entryway.

Will walks in, knocking his shoulder purposefully against Hale's, who doesn't so much as flinch. "I'm sure we will find a Gaze Reader."

The furnishings in the house seem far duller than I remember. The carpet is worn in places, wallpaper peeling, furniture fraying. Strangely, I don't feel comforted by being home.

"Good luck. If you need me, drop this." Hale holds his closed fist out to me.

Laying my palm out flat in front of him, flinching as he drops a smooth rock into it.

"What is it?" I ask, turning it over in my hand. It's a charcoal colour, smooth and glossy to the touch.

"Something special to me." He stares at the rock balanced between my fingers. "If you drop it, I'll know, and I'll come."

He's given this to me, despite it's worth to him. He might as well admit blatantly that he believes he will be returning shortly, that he doesn't think I can survive down here without his aid.

"She won't be needing anymore help," Will mutters, stalking around the room as if he owns it.

Hale only looks at me. "If you say so."

"Thank you again, Hale."

He backs away. "You and I both know this isn't the last time we see each other."

I shiver, getting the feeling that he is right. All I can hope is whatever brings us together again isn't unbearable.

"You're free from me now," I tell him.

He only smiles, even winking. "See you soon." And then he disappears, Will slamming the door behind him.