“Farewell, my dear. I will keep the memory of your smile in my heart while I am away.” He rested his hand over his chest and bowed. “I hope that when we next meet, it shall be under happier tidings.”

“Arthur,” I called as he turned away.

“Yes, my dear?”

“Please?” I walked up to him and stared into his face. “Straight up, okay, no lies. Are you really on our side?”

His eyes focused then softened. “Yes.”

I watched for the same hint of lies David always showed. Nothing. “And, Jason? He really—he didn’t want to hurt me?”

“Not you. What you are, according to his blood oath, but never you—never the girl he was in love with.”

My throat went dry.

“I shall see you soon, Amara.” Arthur stroked my face once, then disappeared.

The hard ground felt infinitely empty with his words and truths lingering in the space behind him.

Jason didn’t want to hurt me? Oh, God. I folded over, clutching my stomach; he gave me the chance to kill him—to break the spirit bind, and I refused.

Before the tears flooded my cheeks, Mike materialised behind me, his arms around my shoulders, clutching his wrists over my chest as I stood up again. “You okay?”

“Did you—did you hear?” I sobbed.

“Yes, baby.” He kissed my head. “We all heard it—all of it.”

“Did—did David?”

“Yes, he was listening, too.” Mike turned me to face him and rested his hands on my shoulders—keeping me at arms-length. “Morgaine wants to see you.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.” I wiped my nose on my wrist. “I just need to calm down first.”

“Okay, take your time?” He went to walk away.

“Mike?”

“Yeah?”

“When were you planning to tell me you’re leaving, to go to this…Loslethal place, or whatever it is?”

He chuckled softly. “It’s Loslilian Manor. I uh—I’m heading out there early to train new recruits and get to know the landscape before we send for you.”

“So you’re leaving me—alone?”

“No, Ara. Not alone.” Mike stepped closer, but stopped a step away. “Emily’s staying here. I’ll come back a few days a week to train you, and when you’re full strength, we’ll move you out to Loslilian with me.”

“What about David?”

“He has to stay here.” Mike nodded once. “Even when you leave, Ara, we have to maintain, to everyone except this small circle, that David’s dead.”

I nodded, half shrugging. “Okay. But if you think you’ve got a hope in hell of getting me to leave him, you’re delusional.”

Mike’s brows rose, dragging a conceited smile with them. “You, my spoiled little princess, will do as you’re told.”

I huffed, wedging my hands on my hips.

“It’s not just about you anymore, Ara. Look, it won’t be long. David can come to Loslilian when we capture Drake.”

“Fine. But I’m at least staying until he gets better.”

“We’ll see.” Mike folded his arms, then looked down, chewing the inside of his lip. “So, when were you going to tell me about the spirit bind?”

“Mike?” I rolled my head to the side.

He stood back and shook his head, his fist over his heart; “This is not a spirit bind, Ara—it’s not. I love you. I always have. Always will.”

“I know, but I—”

“But you don’t love me?” He nodded, his Australian accent slipping back into place.

I shook my head. “Not real love.”

Mike walked backward, one step at a time. “Right. Got it.”

I let him take the heartbreak—let him walk across the road with it, a slightly hunched, sweeping step as he pinched the bridge of his nose, not looking back. He needed to hurt; he needed to feel like I’d moved on in order to find that peace himself.

I waited until he closed the front door, then plonked down on the park bench. I hadn’t counted on him finding out about the bind—especially not like that.

A cold calm blanketed the lakeside park. All the children had run home, leaving buckets and spades behind, the birds quietened in the trees and parents walking with prams all disappeared. It was just me and a steely breeze. And a distant bark of a dog. I spun around to a deep, laboured panting, and my heart jolted, seeing a broad, sturdy husky on the grass behind me. “Petey?”

He stared up at me, his tongue hanging out over his white fur.

“Petey, is that you?”

The dog whimpered, shuffling forward a little.

“Well, come here, boy?” I patted my lap, losing air to the sudden mix of dog fur in my mouth and his heavy paws on my thighs, like he was some kind of puppy that could actually fit on my lap. “What are you doing here—how did you find me?” Surely, he didn’t sniff me out. I looked around the park. Maybe he’s been here before—with Jason. “Are you all alone now, Petey?” I asked, tugging the fur on his neck to get his wet, dog-scented tongue off my face.

Petey sat back on his hindquarters and whimpered.

“Do you need somewhere to live?” I looked deep into his pale-blue eyes.

Petey shook his head, his entire body following as if he were shaking off a flea itch.

“So, are you just…checking up on me?”

A high-pitched whine sounded from the back of his throat and he nudged my chin with his slimy nose.

“I’m okay, Petey. I mean, I’m not, but I will be—when David is.”

The dog slumped heavily against me, and I rested my arms over him for a minute. Somehow, the world didn’t seem so restless and empty with Petey beside me.

They say dog is man’s best friend, but I think, for this girl, right now, he might just be exactly what I need; a companion—one that doesn’t want my heart, my body or my soul. One I can tell all my deepest thoughts and nightmares, and never have to fear judgement or that round-eyed-pity-stare I get from those who love me.

“Petey?” I said; the dog looked up at me. “I think you and I need to have nice long talk—somewhere far away from here.”

Chapter 27

“So, Ara did a good job with Arthur the other day. He’s totally convinced David’s dead,” Morgaine said to an unidentified ear, somewhere in the kitchen.