We walk in silence for a long time.

After a while, Ava gets tired of tripping over everything and clambers onto my back.

When she's fallen asleep on my shoulder, Rae falls in beside me.

She rubs her neck and keeps sending me glances, but doesn't speak.

Eventually, I growl, "what?"

"What?"

"Don't play dumb, Rae. You want to speak, so speak. You're upset about me leaving the boys, aren't you?"

She shakes her head, watching her feet. "Erick and Alex were being idiots anyway."

"Then what? You've been sulking since we left. Did you not want to come?"

"It's not that. I just-." She starts tying her hair up, ripping out strands and wincing. "I'm worried about you, Raven."

"That's new," I say, dryly.

She glares. "I'm allowed to be worried!"

"I didn't say you're not. But I'm fine."

She crosses her arms and stares me down. "Really? What was that with the dagger? And I know what Alex said got under your skin."

I stop walking and turn on her. "Of course, it did! I don't blame him for being mad at me, Rae! You think I don't blame myself for what happened!? Alex almost died because of me! Oliver-." My voice cracks and I shake my head. "Look, it's been years since it happened and I can't even admit that he's gone. And now Will... I feel like I'm falling apart, Raelynn. What do you expect?"

"I expect you to let me in," she whispers. "You don't have to be so tough all the time."

I scoff and keep walking. "That's rich, coming from you. Even after what you went through, you didn't cry."

She looks away. "Well, maybe crying about it felt like giving him power over me again," she whispers. "After you killed him for... what he did to me-." She bites her lip. "It still felt like he was there. Watching me. I couldn't sleep for weeks, Raven. Even leaving his school, even throwing myself into getting my doctorate, even trying to start something with Erick... It felt like he was always there."

I stop again and stare at her. "Rae, he can't hurt you anymore. I would kill him all over again if I had to."

She hugs herself. "Maybe that's why I'm out here," she whispers. "Ever since we met. Ever since you killed him for me... you've been protecting me."

"We've been protecting each other."

She shakes her head. "I may patch up your wounds when you get hurt, but I don't protect you like you protect me."

"I don't expect you to."

"Why not?" She pulls her cross from her shirt and holds it. "Everything good in my life, I can thank you for. Killing our principal, my doctorate, my faith... what would I be if you hadn't found me that day? How is it fair of me to keep asking for your safety without anything in return?"

I look to my shoes. "This is the way I like it, Rae. I put myself on the line so I don't have to lose anyone else. If I'd done that back then... Ollie would still be alive. You don't like that I'm reckless, and I'm sorry, but this is what's easy for me. If I get hurt, the people I love don't. Does that-does that make sense?"

She studies me and nods. "It does. But what happens when we lose you?" She whispers.

I keep going. "It won't matter," I say. "I'll get Will back and you all can return to your lives."

She grabs my arm. "That doesn't work for me."

I pull away. "You'll have him back," I promise.

"I'm not out here for Will!" She shouts, not following me.

I stop and turn back to her, shifting Ava on my shoulders. "Rae-."

"No!" She shouts. "You don't get to talk like that. Not to me. I'm your best friend, Raven! I get that you don't want to lose anyone like you lost Oliver, but that doesn't mean I can lose you."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to promise me I'm not going to lose you."

"How am I supposed to promise that, Raelynn?"

She steps closer, eyes pleading. "I don't know. I don't care. But no matter what happens... promise me we'll see each other again. Promise you'll never stop fighting to come back to me."

I shift Ava again. I clear my throat and nod. "I promise, Rae."

She sighs and nods. "Good." She glances behind her. "You know they're following us, right?"

I sigh and hoist Ava higher on my back. "Yep."

"You think they heard all that?"

"They're not that close. C'mon. They'll think something's up if we stop for too long."

"How do you think things are going under Erick's leadership?"

I snort, "I'm sure James has smacked him upside the head about three times by now."

She giggles, "I'd bet ten times by the time we reach the mountain."

I smile. "You're on."

We reach the edge of the forest by nightfall.

I ease Ava onto the ground and lean her against a tree. We wait for the rest of the group to catch up.

When they do, Erick has a large welt on the side of his face and Izzy is keeping James far away.

I raise my eyebrows. "I think you won the bet," I tell Rae.

She crosses her arms as they approach.

Catherine raises her eyebrows at us and I drop mine. "You waited for us," she notes.

"I'm surprised you're all here," I say. "What happened to the 'no strays' rule, Erick?"

Erick sneers. "It's not like I invited them."

"Why are you all here?" I ask. "I understand James, but what about you three?"

Izzy shrugs. "It's not like I've got anywhere else to go. You, at least, seem to know how to survive in the woods."

"That'll be our answer too," Daniel says.

"I just came because Danny did," Cat claims.

I roll my eyes. "Fine."

"Fine?" Erick growls. "You know how Will feels about strays!"

"Well, Will's not here right now. We'll part ways at some point. It's not like we're keeping them around forever. A bigger group could be useful getting to the top of the mountain. But we can put it to a vote if you'd like."

Erick sighs, "don't bother."

"Whoa."

I turn and find that James had slipped past us to peer past the edge of the forest. I join him and freeze.

We've reached the base of the mountain, but it's surrounded by Fae.

They've got camps set up and they sit around their fires, laughing and playing card games.

"That's not good," Alex mutters.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Catherine asks.

"Is Charlie there?"

I look down at Ava. "Weren't you asleep?"

"Do you see Charlie?"

I scan the groups of Fae and shake my head. "No."

She frowns and furrows her brows. "We should wait."

"Until when?" Erick asks. "It's dark out. It's the perfect time to go."

"No, we should wait for Charlie," Ava protests.

"Why do we care about some Fae anyway?" Cat growls.

"He's my friend," I snap. "You better not hurt him if he joins us."

"You don't need to threaten me." She crosses her arms. "I'm not here to cause trouble."

"We can't wait on this guy," Erick argues. "Will even said we weren't making good time before Charlie stabbed him."

"It wasn't him," I hiss. I don't know why I'm defending him. I still don't have proof Charlie didn't do it. But... I trust him. I scan the lines of Fae again. "I can cause a distraction while you all get onto the mountain."

"Not until you can see Charlie!" Ava cries.

Erick rolls his eyes. "Stop acting like a baby, Ava. Even if you are one."

I glare at Erick and go to squat in front of Ava. I grab her hand and move her fingers to the scar on my palm. "Hey, I'm going to be okay. I know you're worried-."

She shakes her head. "You have to wait for him."

"Why, sweetie? I'll be right behind you. We don't even know if Charlie is coming."

She squeezes her eyes shut. "Trust me, Raven."

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. "I guess we can wait for a while."

Erick rolls his eyes. "Oh, great, we're following the commands of the sixteen-year-old child. What next, you going to ask the squirrels for advice?"

I jolt. "Where's a squirrel?" I search the tree tops.

Rae snorts into her hand.

I shake my head. "Just drop it, Erick. Ava's been right about everything so far. We're listening to her."

"What would Will say if he were here?"

I grit my teeth. "What's your plan then, Erick?"

He shifts from foot to foot. "We can't trust this Fae. He's dangerous and he's already stabbed one of us. We should be getting as far from them as possible, not dating one of them."

"They're not dating," Daniel snaps.

Cat hits him in the shoulder. "How do you know?"

"Trust me, if you want to live a long and happy life, you don't date Raven," Alex growls.

"That's enough, Alex!" Rae snaps.

"Oh, so you're the boss of me now, huh? You barely knew Oliver!"

"But I know Raven and as much as you blame her, what happened wasn't her fault."

Alex opens his mouth to respond.

I hoist Ava into my arms and shove her at James.

"What are you doing?" He asks, shifting her.

"Raven," Ava warns.

I back away from the group. "I'm done yelling at you all to stop acting like children. When there's an opening, run for the tree line."

"Raven, don't you dare!" Ava shouts, struggling against James.

He holds her tightly, not letting go.

"HEY!" I shout, stepping out of the forest.

The Fae nearest me reach for their weapons, standing as I approach.

"Halt! Who are you!?"

"My name's Raven Black!" I shout. "I hear you're looking for me!"