Page 68 of Can you take it?

I frowned. “It’s a little more serious than that.”

‘I know, I know,’ she said. ‘It’s just…it’s kind of boring here. Mendax handles all the exciting things. He wants me to stay calm until after the baby’s born.’

“I’ll keep you updated,” I said.

‘Okay. Are you good?’ she asked. ‘Are we good? I know it’s been a long time since we fought, but…’

“We’re good,” I said. A long time? It had been hours. “Cal?” I added.

‘Yeah?’ she replied.

“I’m so proud of you,” There was a moment of silence between us, too many emotions swirling to hear anything else.

“I’ll keep you updated,” I said, then closed the bond.

“You didn’t tell her I said goodbye,” Anna said with a pout that, for some reason, made me laugh.

“She sounds really happy,” I said with a slow nod, taking a deep breath as I processed everything that had just happened. “Anna, I’m voting for Bexley.”

The faintest glimmer of light brightened in her eyes. Had I not been watching so intently, I might not have noticed. It was quickly disguised.

“Nice,” she said softly.

“The ironic thing is, I think he wouldn’t mind staying at that tavern for a while,” I said with a laugh. “But I think he deserves a fresh start. If I can help him, I’d like to. I’ll get out of here eventually. I’m certain that’s not the only way,” I said.

She nodded, looking down at her hands. “I don’t think Bexley’s ever had anyone on his side. Not really,” she said. “I feel terrible, being by him for all these years and hardly noticing how desperately he needed help until he was right in my face.” “Things get really hard and confusing when you don’t have a purpose,” I said, and we both knew I was talking more about myself than Bexley.

“Yeah.” She nodded, letting out a big breath. “It’s just a shame I’m going to have all that time to talk you out of that pendant now,” she said sarcastically.

“Oh, you think?” I said with a laugh, bumping her with my shoulder.

“It’s only a matter of time. Find me another waterfall, and I bet you’ll hand it right over,” she teased, poking me in the stomach.

“I’m sorry for threatening you earlier,” I said seriously, all humor gone from my face. “I’m so confused.”

“About yourself or us?” she asked softly, tilting her head. “About all of it,” I said, waving my hands.

When we arrived back to the group, Walter, Eletha, and Bexley were all sitting in the circle of dirt that had shifted and brought us here. “Well, do I have to kill you?” Walter asked with a smile plastered across his face.

I smiled back, even though, in all honesty, I was still a little frustrated that he wouldn’t have picked me to leave.

“No, you don’t have to kill me,” I said. “I’m not going to lie; I want to get out of here. Badly. And if I thought there was something else I could do to convince you all to pick me, I would do it. But I really did think about everything you guys have been saying. I was being greedy and only thinking of myself as someone who needs to get out of here. And the fact is, I’ve already had some pretty great times in my life.” Turning to Bexley, who was lying on his side in the dirt, I added, “And, Bexley, I want you to know I pick you too. I think you deserve to get out of here.”

“What?” Bexley shouted, sitting upright and looking decidedly pissed off. “Why would you pick me?” He slapped the ground in frustration. I heard Anna snort beside me. “I’m the only one of you that doesn’t want to go!” he yelled.

Eletha cleared her throat, and everyone froze to see what she would say. It was no secret that Eletha was not Bexley’s biggest fan.

“I think you should leave the tiers and leave Eromreven for good,” she said. “You’ve been helpful to us down here. Thank you. I think I may have misjudged you, and for that, I’m sorry,” she added, bowing her head.

Bexley had already risen to his feet, swearing the entire time. “You dumbasses. I’m the only one that wanted to stay! This is the best tavern in the tiers,” he grumbled, standing up and turning toward the large gated door. He took a couple of steps and then paused, his grumpy face softening slightly as he looked back at the group. I got the odd sense that he didn’t actually want to leave us, despite everything he had said.

Anna stood and walked up to him. “I can’t believe we’ve spent all these years knowing about each other but never really knowing each other. I feel awful if I’ve contributed in any way to the mistreatment you’ve experienced while in Eromreven.”

“A bit salesy for the Queen of the Underworld,” I mumbled under my breath.

“You’ve never had any part in how I’ve been treated,” Bexley said curtly. “What do you want me to do when I get to Eromreven? Should I tell Kaohs so he can help you lot?”

Anna shook her head. “Dad can’t do anything in here. It’s controlled more by the Fates than anything,” she said. Her words caught my attention. There was a glimmer of heaviness behind them, like there was a clue I should have recognized but couldn’t.