"She's awake!" was the next thing Emery heard, but her head drummed too much for her to make out who the voice belonged to. 

Every blink felt coarse and dry. She rubbed the palms of her hands against them to try and stop the awful sensation. "What happened?" she asked, pushing herself off what felt like a shaggy carpet. 

She recognized the tall bookcases and paintings, as well as the several cushioned seats arranged about the space. They were back at the House common room. 

Melinda was rushing to and fro, picking up whatever books, artifacts, or documents Mave pointed toward before shoving them into a box. 

"Are you okay?" she heard Poppy ask. The girl was seated beside her, and she pressed a damp towel against her forehead. "Do you feel ill or hurt anywhere?"

"I'm okay," she dismissed the question quickly. "What happened? What's going on?"

"Son of a bitch got away," Lila answered, walking in from a passageway to drop off some empty boxes. "And it was embarrassingly easy for him."

"I still don't understand how he managed to break through the binds. It was the strongest curse I had," Poppy's voice died off in shame. 

"He's a royal. We forgot to factor that in," Melinda added as she tossed a golden spellbook into one of the empty boxes Lila brought. "We underestimated him and we were caught off guard."

"Did you prepare the new identities and location, Lila?" Mave asked. 

The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a series of documents. "Yes. I'll hand them out once we're all packed."

New identities?  "Are we going into hiding?" Emery asked.

"Obviously."

Emery furrowed her brows. "But . . . You heard him. He's coming back."

"Yeah, with an army," Lila guffawed. 

"No," she protested, "to get proof."

She hadn't notice Mave walk up behind her. With a gentle grip on her shoulder. "His word cannot be trusted, Emery. We must take precautions and expect the worst. We'll be safest when we leave."

"But that makes no sense," she insisted. "Why would he come back to attack? He had the chance to take my Song and gate, but he didn't." Emery pointed to the necklace still tied around her neck. 

Poppy grimaced. "Maybe he was in a rush."

"He'd just lost the Song of Water. He wouldn't miss an opportunity to grab mine while we were at our weakest. It doesn't make sense."

"Let it go," Mave pressed, tightening her grip on her shoulder. "We cannot stand idly while the unknown is knocking at our door. We must take leave."

"Come on, kid," Lila gestured for Emery to follow her to the entrance. "Help me carry these boxes upstairs." She heaved two small boxes onto her arm and walked out. 

Emery felt like the conversation was far from over, but it didn't seem like any of them was willing to hear her side of things. Still, she scampered to her feet, grabbed another box, and followed her out of the House of Fire. 

"Lila," Emery called out once she'd caught up. They were halfway up the stairs to the library. "I think this is a bad idea. What if—"

"Shut your mouth," she snapped, whipping around to reveal a piercing scowl. "You don't seem to realize that we're under serious danger, all because you fell for Theo's charms, and we gave him the benefit of the doubt."

Emery glared back. "That's not what happened."

"Just carry the boxes," she was dismissed again. Lila hurried up the stairs before Emery could get another word out. 

She tried to talk as she followed her through the library shelves and out the library entrance, but was too busy trying to catch her breath. The dehydration and hunger had reached their limit, but she knew this was no time to stop. She followed Lila all the way to a pickup truck where they both dropped the boxes. 

"If you'll just—" she stopped as she felt something light slap against her leg. Emery glanced down to find a black and white flyer stuck to her shin. The raging mountain wind made its edges flap and crinkle. 

Lila bent down and grabbed it for her. Her alarmed eyes scanned the paper for half a second before slamming her hands down. "Shit," she cursed, dragging a hand down her face. "I completely forgot to deal with this."

Emery snatched the paper away from her. A gasp filled her lungs when she saw a picture of her face with the words "Have you seen me?" in bold letters. Seth's contact information was right below. 

"Crap," Emery now shared Lila's sentiment. She'd been gone for three days. Of course, he'd worry and think she was missing. Her face must've been plastered all around Bellenau. 

"Come on, we need to deal with this now," Lila told her. She slammed the trunk closed and half-run, half-jogged to the driver's seat. Emery quickly followed suit, her hand clenching the paper until it wrinkled. 

He must've been so worried, she couldn't stop thinking. 

The truck engine roared to life, but didn't move. Lila's foot never pressed the gas pedal. She just stayed with both hands on the steering wheel and her gaze far off. 

"Lila?" 

"Listen to me, kid," she started, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel even tighter. "We're about to go through a heap of shit. You can't make Seth go through it too. He's weak."

Emery flinched, a rage bubbling in her chest. "What?! You don't know what S—"

"Please . . ." Lila finally turned to look at her. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. "I mean it. Only drag him into this if you're sure he's your chosen. You must tell him everything, because . . . " her voice died off as a tear rolled down her cheek. She fiercely wiped it away before returning her hand to the wheel. "Humans aren't cut out for this, Emery. If he comes with us, you might lose him . . . forever."

The girl's heart twitched. "Lila . . . Did you lose someone?"

She paid no mind to the question and returned her eyes to the road. "If I take you to Baker's, you have to choose Emery. Right then and there. We have to leave Bellenau by the end of the day. He either comes with us or leaves on his own."

"Okay," she agreed, her heart heavy, "let's go."

⤝◈◈◈◈◈⤞

It'd only been a few days since she'd last stepped foot on that porch, but so much had happened. She felt lifetimes had passed. Her eyes were pinched together as she took a deep breath. 

"Well, if you aren't going to do it . . ." Lila lifted a closed fist and knocked on the door twice. 

Emery's breath hitched as she instinctively reached a hand to her chest. Heartbeats seemed stronger with each passing second. She really thought her chest would burst. 

The door opened. Mrs. Baker appeared on the other side. Her wrinkly eyes traveled to the sheriff first and then to Emery. What seemed like a terrifying shriek escaped her. "Oh, Emery!" she yelled, and only when she'd wrapped her in a hug did she understand it wasn't terror, but relief. "We've been so worried!"

"I'm okay."

Hurried steps could be heard from inside the house. They slowed down as they got closer before a familiar voice asked, "Emery?"

Mrs. Baker let her go and stepped to the side. 

Seth stood a few feet from the doorway, his expression melting from shock into solace. "Em . . ." he whispered as she stepped through the doorway. 

"Mrs. Baker, may we have a word?" she heard Lila ask. 

"Yes, please tell me, where did sh—" Their voices died off as the door clicked shut. 

"I'm sorry," were the first words to slip off her tongue.

Seth scrunched up his face in confusion. Then, he took two quick steps toward her and wrapped her tight. "Where the hell have you been?" His sniffles and his warm breath against her neck made her want to cry. She had to shut them tightly once more before the tears spilled out. 

Only then did she feel like she'd arrived home. 

Pity. She knew the feeling wouldn't last long. 

Her hand reached for his as she pulled away from his embrace. "Come with me," she whispered, dragging him to a nearby seat. She sat down close, just to feel the heat of his leg against hers. 

Seth's hand reached to caress her cheek, and she leaned into it. "What happened, Em?"

"There's something I have to tell you,"  began, her voice already wavering. 

His eyes studied her face, probably looking for an answer. No matter how hard he looked, there was no way he could've known what she was thinking. Not anymore . . .

"What is it?"

"It's important you believe me this time," she pressed, holding on to her hand even tighter. "I have so little time."

"Em . . . you're worrying me."

"Promise you'll hear me out. No interruptions."

"I promise."

She took a weak, wavering breath. "Remember that book you found in my room upstairs? The one I wanted you to stop reading?"

Seth nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. 

"It's all real," she whispered, releasing his hand to hold it in between them. She focused all her remaining strength on two fingers and then snapped them together. An ember appeared at her fingertips, burning for a few seconds before turning to a tendril of smoke. 

He straightened up, his eyes staring in disbelief at her hand. "I—"

She didn't let him speak. "All the crazy stuff that's been happening, it's because . . . I'm one of Izoven's gatekeepers."

Seth began shaking his head, burying it into his hands before rubbing his eyes. "How is this possible?"

"Listen to me," she urged him, grabbing onto his shoulder to pull him back. Her eyes began to sting. "I might be in danger. So, I have to leave. Go into hiding, until it's safe again."

"Danger?" he asked, furrowing his fiery brows. "Wait . . . what do you mean 'I'?" She could tell there was a million questions running around his head. She wished she could answer all of them, but she didn't have the time. 

"You don't have to be with me," she explained. "You can walk away from all this. You can be safe."

"And leave you alone? I can't. I couldn't live with myself."

A small smile broke out as her heart shattered a little more. "I can make you forget. You won't remember I was in danger. You can live your life none the wiser." 

"Forget?" Seth took off his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose between two fingers. "I don't understand."

"I don't want you to leave me," her voice broke out into low sniffles, "but this is my life now, Seth. Danger or not, I'm not going back to Wimbourne. There's so much I have to do."

"What are you saying?" His tone was desperate. Pleading. He sounded as broken up as she felt. 

Emery closed her eyes as she finally said, "There are two choices. Either you leave everything you've known behind and go with me."

"Or?"

"I have to make you forget everything I just told you. You'll think we just broke up, and you'll leave for Wimborne."

He pinched his eyes together. "Emery, there's too much I don't understand. How do you expect me to choose?"

She let out a humorless chuckle. "It sucks, doesn't it?"

There was two knocks on the front door before it reopened. Lila walked in, with a cigarette between her lips. "We need to speed this up. You need to start packing your things."

Emery let out a low, "Dammit," before taking Seth's hands once more. "Seth, you have to choose."

He scrunched up his nose and lowered his gaze. After a few seconds of hesitation. "Well . . . Can't you just make me forget? For now? And come back to Wimborne when everything's safe?"

Another sniffle. "I can't go back. Even when everything's safe. I have to stay where they are." She nudged her head toward Lila.

Seth clenched his jaw, his eyes darting around her features. "Then, I'll come live with you when it's safe, wherever that is."

"You don't get it," Lila interrupted. "Emery's a gatekeeper. It's going to be years before anything's safe in her life. There's a lot of work she has to do, which would put you in danger. Take my advice; stay ignorant; stay alive."

She was right. Even if Theo came back and joined them, there was so much tension between the kingdoms. The House was probably going to spend all their time just keeping Theo safe. Poisoning, kidnapping, assaults. Who knows what the kingdoms would do to keep Vareus' land available for them?

She stood, pulling Seth up with her. "There are only two options, Seth. You need to choose."

Lila clicked her tongue as if disapproving the mere consideration of him staying. 

His mouth opened and then shut again. "Em . . . This isn't what I thought our life together would be. Running? Trying to stay alive? It sounds . . . terrifying."

"It isn't what I thought life would be either. Yet, here I am." 

"I just," he stopped, tearing his gaze away from her to look at the floor. "What could I even do if I stayed? I can't help you. I'd be a burden."

"You'd make me happy," she whispered before a sob escaped her lips. It was selfish, she realized, to ask him to stay for that reason alone, but . . . She didn't want to lose his warmth. His calm. Her home.

"What about me?" he asked, his expression melting into sadness. "I just wait around every day wondering if I get to see you alive or not? I'd be miserable."

The tears came freely now. She felt one drop from her chin and another slide down the side of her nose. "I . . . I understand."

Seth dried off her tears and wiped them on his white shirt. "I love you, Emery, but there's still so much I want to do. I can't give it all up."

Still, she tried once more. "You can find new things. We might get to explore a whole realm."

"Adventure was always your dream. Not mine." His lips stretched into a sad smile.

"So, you choose to forget," Emery concluded, taking a step away. Seth's hands dropped by his sides. 

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she replied, drying the new tears streaming down her face. "I don't blame you."

His eyes softened even more. So, she turned to look at Lila and said, "It's time."

The blonde nodded and stepped forward. "This'll be quick. The memory's from your trip to Bellenau will be hazy. You'll only remember what you need to. After I erase your memory, Emery will tell you you broke up, and that you were just about to start packing for Wimbourne. Your mind will fill in the gaps. Understood?"

He hesitated. His gaze unwavering from Emery. Even though he looked unconvinced, he still said, "I understand."

Her heart felt like it was shrinking. She grasped her chest as Lila raised her thumb toward Seth's forehead.

"Wait!" she yelled, stepping in between them and wrapping her arms around Seth's neck. She pulled him down and kissed him. "I'm going to miss you."

He pulled her up by the small of her back, slamming his lips against hers one last time. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers. "Me too."

Fearing she wouldn't let go if he hugged her any longer, Emery stepped away and motioned for Lila to step in. "Alright, go ahead." 

Lila nodded and placed the thumb on his head. It happened so fast Emery almost missed it. In a matter of seconds, Lila stepped away and left Seth in a haze. 

Though she could barely see through her stinging, teary eyes, she reminded herself that the job wasn't done. So, she waited until Seth regained his senses. 

He blinked twice and gazed at his surroundings before turning to Emery. "What happened?"

"You're leaving," she told him through the sobs. "We just broke up."