Page 99 of Fated to the Wicked King

Well, no.

Rabb loved Allie—brave, clever Allie.

Not cold, calculating Eleanor.

Ugh.

I had to clear my head.

Careful not to wake up Rabb, I slipped out of bed.

Hastily putting on dry clothes, I bent down to the pile of my still-wet clothes at the foot of the bed to fetch something from the pocket of my lab coat.

I stared at the F-capacitor in my hands.

A mechanical link with two delicate metal branches.

Inert. Innocent. Harmless—for now.

It was the last component I needed to complete my invention.

Gripping it tighter in my hand, I whirled to head downstairs as quietly as I could.

My mind spun as I vividly recalled the event that had led me to this world.

As the General said, during one of our experimentation trials, at the very last minute, I’d had a change of heart.

I had decided to sacrifice myself to save others, intending to take the General with me, but instead, we ended up getting caught in my own maelstrom machine’s wake that had opened a path, and eventually got pulled into this mystical other world.

Was it too late for retribution?

I steeled myself not to let the crushing guilt overwhelm me as I prepared to safely disable my new invention. I had been so close. I focused on the future possibilities of more fantastic inventions, the anticipation of that usual feeling of pride and triumph upon completing my work that usually washed over me. Next time, it would be better.

One floor beneath my laboratory, in this dimly lit space, my nearly-completed machine stood in ominous silence. Significantly smaller than the fantastic machine that the General had created with the Hatter in the forest, it contained the same glass, mirrors, and steel. A platform that only fit one person, rather than an entire invasion army.

“Fresh tides.”

I turned to see Rabb at the bottom of the spiral staircase. He was dressed in some of his clothes that he had left behind. His blue eyes were wide with marvel.

“Rabb.” I straightened up.

Walking over, he shook his head in disbelief. “You built a…” He stopped short to amend, “Well, I should have known. In fact, did I not call it myself? You are a brilliant woman.” He moved to brace his arms around me, tugging me back against his chest. He bent his head close to my ear. “No cage will hold you. Not this entire world. Not even the prison of my heart.”

Closing my eyes, I savored the moment—his warmth on my back, his jaw pressed against my cheek, the tingling I got everywhere, every second he was anywhere near me.

“Rabb, I…got my memories back.”

He stilled behind me, but he didn’t let me go. He swallowed hard. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”

I turned to meet the concern in his soft blue eyes. The emotions in them were a storm of conflict, making me ache. “I’m fine.” I dropped my gaze. “It was true. Everything the General said I did. I know it now. For sure.” I lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s just I wanted everything to be…fascinating.”

He tilted my chin up again. “We both know even monsters can change.”

I took his face in my hands. “Whoever I am, I do love you.”

A shadow crossed his eyes. “What are you saying? Are you trying to say goodbye to me right now?” He dropped his hands, taking a step back. “Is that what this means? You’re going to use this machine to go back to your own world?” His eyes darted across the floor. “It’s a mistake, Allie. You must stay. You’ve fit in so well here. You’ve made a home. I-I need you.” He rubbed his face with his hand. “I’ve been stuck, too focused on the past. You are my only future.”

Shaking my head, I rushed toward him once again to stop his panicked rant. “Rabb, I’m not going anywhere,” I assured, sliding my arms about his neck.