the one comforting Mama May, cradling her against me like a child.
I can picture Pearl’s small, pointed features and her honest, gray eyes, holding everyone accountable. She acted so jaded, waving her pocketknife, but she smiled at the Holiday lights like any other seven-year-old would.
For all the terrible things that have happened today, this feels worst of all.
“I’m going to find Pearl,” Whit promises. He puts a hand on Mama May’s shoulder and squeezes it. “I’m going up the Mountain.”
My heart stops. What did he just say?
Chapter 30
Wisty
“HOW COULD YOU promise her something like that?” I demand, my voice scaring up a flock of pigeons from the street.
Whit says I’m impulsive, but I at least had the sense to wait until Mama May left before I confronted him.
“How do you know the Mountain King is even the kidnapper? You’re going to trust Bloom ?”
“No,” Whit says tightly. “I’m going to trust my instincts.” Then he looks at me, his face softening, and for a second our old closeness returns. “Remember that night with the visions, Wist?”
I remember the horrible images, and the way he winced in pain. He was acting so weird afterward, too, so not like my brother—so agitated and scared .
“I was feeling what Pearl was feeling, even if I didn’t understand it then.”
I nod. I know Whit and Pearl had a special connection, and I don’t blame him for wanting to risk everything to go after her. I should go, too. I should trust him , but…
“You can’t leave the City now!” Heath says, seemingly reading my thoughts. Whit wheels around and shoves him against the stone wall.
“Does it interfere with your plans ?” Whit asks, his glare full of daggers.
“I just didn’t think you’d enjoy seeing your parents behind bars again,” Heath answers icily, and straightens the collar of his leather jacket.
“Stop it!” I look from Heath to Whit angrily, but I know Heath is right. That press conference was a horror show. If we leave, every citizen who watched the news will believe Bloom’s claim that magicians are working with the Mountain King. Who will stand up for our rights? Even if we make peace with the Mountain King, we’ll return to another prison state.
“What about what Mom and Dad said, about winning back the people?” I remind my brother, trying another angle. I know that as strong-willed as he is, he trusts our parents. “If we can just deal with Bloom first…”
Whit’s jaw tightens. For one long moment, I think he’s swayed, but then he shakes his head, and I know there’s no changing his mind.
“Bloom’s not the biggest threat. Celia said the Mountain King is a psychopath. And if he has Pearl…”
Celia? Where does Celia fit in here? She’s dead ! Gone!
“What are you talking about? When were you going to tell me this?”
“I don’t know—when you were babbling about your date? When you were throwing me out of your apartment?” Whit sighs heavily and rubs his forehead in frustration. “I’m telling you now . Someone has to try to negotiate with the Mountain King, no matter what the Council says. I’m going.”
“I’m going with you, then,” Janine says, standing next to my brother.
“I’m going, too,” Sasha says. He looks at me apologetically. “We haven’t caught any of the kidnappers. It’s time to go to the source.”
Emmett puts up his hands, unwilling to choose, but Whit isn’t looking at him anyway.
“Wisty?” His eyes are pleading.
“I…” There’s a knot in my chest, and my eyes flit between Whit and Heath. Do I really have to choose? “I…” But I can’t get the words out—my throat is so dry.
Heath slides a hand around my waist. I’m not sure if it’s because we merged our magic, but I can almost feel the power in it, the support. You’re needed here , that touch seems to remind me. Stay. Stay.
“Think of your parents, Wisty,” Heath says gently. “You told me you lost them once. You
I can picture Pearl’s small, pointed features and her honest, gray eyes, holding everyone accountable. She acted so jaded, waving her pocketknife, but she smiled at the Holiday lights like any other seven-year-old would.
For all the terrible things that have happened today, this feels worst of all.
“I’m going to find Pearl,” Whit promises. He puts a hand on Mama May’s shoulder and squeezes it. “I’m going up the Mountain.”
My heart stops. What did he just say?
Chapter 30
Wisty
“HOW COULD YOU promise her something like that?” I demand, my voice scaring up a flock of pigeons from the street.
Whit says I’m impulsive, but I at least had the sense to wait until Mama May left before I confronted him.
“How do you know the Mountain King is even the kidnapper? You’re going to trust Bloom ?”
“No,” Whit says tightly. “I’m going to trust my instincts.” Then he looks at me, his face softening, and for a second our old closeness returns. “Remember that night with the visions, Wist?”
I remember the horrible images, and the way he winced in pain. He was acting so weird afterward, too, so not like my brother—so agitated and scared .
“I was feeling what Pearl was feeling, even if I didn’t understand it then.”
I nod. I know Whit and Pearl had a special connection, and I don’t blame him for wanting to risk everything to go after her. I should go, too. I should trust him , but…
“You can’t leave the City now!” Heath says, seemingly reading my thoughts. Whit wheels around and shoves him against the stone wall.
“Does it interfere with your plans ?” Whit asks, his glare full of daggers.
“I just didn’t think you’d enjoy seeing your parents behind bars again,” Heath answers icily, and straightens the collar of his leather jacket.
“Stop it!” I look from Heath to Whit angrily, but I know Heath is right. That press conference was a horror show. If we leave, every citizen who watched the news will believe Bloom’s claim that magicians are working with the Mountain King. Who will stand up for our rights? Even if we make peace with the Mountain King, we’ll return to another prison state.
“What about what Mom and Dad said, about winning back the people?” I remind my brother, trying another angle. I know that as strong-willed as he is, he trusts our parents. “If we can just deal with Bloom first…”
Whit’s jaw tightens. For one long moment, I think he’s swayed, but then he shakes his head, and I know there’s no changing his mind.
“Bloom’s not the biggest threat. Celia said the Mountain King is a psychopath. And if he has Pearl…”
Celia? Where does Celia fit in here? She’s dead ! Gone!
“What are you talking about? When were you going to tell me this?”
“I don’t know—when you were babbling about your date? When you were throwing me out of your apartment?” Whit sighs heavily and rubs his forehead in frustration. “I’m telling you now . Someone has to try to negotiate with the Mountain King, no matter what the Council says. I’m going.”
“I’m going with you, then,” Janine says, standing next to my brother.
“I’m going, too,” Sasha says. He looks at me apologetically. “We haven’t caught any of the kidnappers. It’s time to go to the source.”
Emmett puts up his hands, unwilling to choose, but Whit isn’t looking at him anyway.
“Wisty?” His eyes are pleading.
“I…” There’s a knot in my chest, and my eyes flit between Whit and Heath. Do I really have to choose? “I…” But I can’t get the words out—my throat is so dry.
Heath slides a hand around my waist. I’m not sure if it’s because we merged our magic, but I can almost feel the power in it, the support. You’re needed here , that touch seems to remind me. Stay. Stay.
“Think of your parents, Wisty,” Heath says gently. “You told me you lost them once. You
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