Page 181 of Ex Somnis

“The thing where you spiral into guilt and decide everything is your fault. We are not doing that today.”

Beside me, Paul nods in agreement.

Very supportive.

Very psychologist.

“This is exactly what got Tessa into this mess,” I continue. “We need your A-game, not your guilt complex. I am not going back into 5D. Do you understand me?”

Paul nods harder.

Honestly, if he had cue cards right now, they’d probably say GOOD BOUNDARIES.

“So we figure out the rest. Fast.” I push hair out of my face. “Preferably while Tessa is still mad at you, because an angry Tessa is significantly easier to reason with than a sad Tessa.”

Derek lets out a breath that’s almost a laugh. “That’s surprisingly strategic.”

“You didn’t listen carefully, Derek. She said she would have chosen you over every single thing this town ever offered her. She still loves you, but the trust is broken.”

“I—”

My phone buzzes against my ear. “Hold on.”

I pull it away to find Jasper is texting me.

Jasper

Sorry, I know it’s early, but I reached Mom in my dreamscape, and we made a plan.

Bring the guys and a recent picture of Tessa.

“Thank fuck,” I whisper.

“What?” Comes from next to me and from the phone.

“The psychic hotline finally got back to us.” I put the phone back to my ear. “Derek?”

“Yeah?”

“Meet us at the inn.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Lennon

“And that’s it,” Jasper finishes, spreading his hands like he’s just produced a rabbit out of a hat instead of a plan that involves all of us pretending to be the same comatose woman to catfish the boogieman. “Confuse him. Make him let go of all his promises. Get her out.”

Nobody speaks for several long seconds.

“Okay,” Paul says eventually. “Say that part again. The part where he releases every promise ever made to him. Not just Tessa’s or Nevan’s.”

“All of them.” Jasper nods like this is obvious. “It’s the only way the math works.”

“Okay, wait.” Ridge shakes his head. “What if Tessa makes a soul contract with Lennon instead? Wouldn’t that override whatever promise she made to him? Soul contracts are supposed to be the stronger thing, right?”

Seraphine sets down her tea. “You can give as many promises as you like in this life, but you cannot promise the same truth to two different people. You can with your mouth but not with your soul. You can only stand in one place with what’s real.”

“So, a promise can’t be overridden by a contract, and a contract can’t undo a promise?” Nevan asks, and Seraphine nods absentmindedly.