Page 170 of Fallacies

Magic floods my veins, pulsing through my fingertips, and I wince when I feel the metal loosen.

But what if he has? What if he’s let me be pulled into him over and over again? Allowed me to blame our connection on Fate. On love. I mean, how much can a Lure really affect two people? How much can it really change who we are and what we feel?

Then, an even scarier question takes root, splintering through my brain and leaving a fractured mess of uncertainty in its wake.

The chain falls from my neck; its familiar weight on my chest, gone for the first time in my life. I drop it onto the table and sit back.

How much of it was real?

39

Callan

As the sun rises, light spills over the horizon line, painting the sky red.

Tomorrow’s sunrise will look different. Feel different. My coven won’t be asleep behind me, and I won’t be sitting here alone. If all goes to plan, I’ll have Cin back, we’ll bring our people home, and I’ll watch tomorrow’s sunrise with my father.

My father.

It’s almost too good to be true.

“Cal.” I turn at Hunter’s voice. He’s wearing all his armor, blonde hair hastily brushed back, and his eyes are half-closed from sleep. “You sure you don’t want to come?”

I glance to Easton, who has just finished pulling his hair back and is now swinging his bag over his shoulder, cautiously crossing the dwindling fire to where Hunter and I stand.

I’d asked them to go and make sure Pirn was ready for all the Sol we’re sending through tomorrow. It’s mostly the Menders that will need the warning.

These people…I have no idea what kind of shape they’ll be in. If their condition is at all similar to Iris’s, then everyone needs to be prepared for what we're about to send through the Banyan. Well, as prepared as we can be.

I nod in assurance, looking back at Hunter. “I need to stay here, but the two of you need to be back before midnight.” And not a second later. The last thing I need is Lucina to be ready and us to be lagging.

Hunter’s head tilts. “Midnight? I thought you said by morning?”

“What? No,” I snap, temper fraying. “I told you that⁠—”

“He’s kidding.” Easton clasps a hand over my shoulder. “You said midnight about a hundred times, boss.”

“We heard you,” Hunter adds. “And we’ll be there.”

I glare back at him, relieved but still a bit wound up. A lot is riding on this. It’s the closest we’ve been to what we’ve worked years for. I won’t apologize for a shortened temper or a strict run of things. I can’t even believe he’d joke about any of this at all.

“You should really get some sleep, Cal.” Easton advises through a yawn, his expression hardening into something serious as he looks me over. “You’re going to need it.”

Rolling my shoulders back, I nod. “Your concern has been duly noted.”

Easton scoffs. “And ignored?”

“And ignored.”

Hunter rolls his eyes.

They act as if I sleep soundly on a regular basis. I don’t. I can’t remember the last time I did. On a good night, I manage a few hours, but being out here…while Lucina is in there? Combined with the pressure we’re under?

Forget it. I’ve hardly even tried.

“I’ll be fine,” I assure them, nodding in the direction they should already be walking in. “You two should get going.”

Easton glances to Hunter, who gives a mock salute before he turns to leave. Easton lingers, eyeing me for a second longer, but whatever opinion he’s tempted to share, he holds on to it.