Page 66 of Soul Fated

Lana licked whipped cream from her lips. "We have to find a way to challenge them. They’re not invincible."

“But they have the dagger,” I muttered. And Kael. My heart felt like it was in a vacuum-sealed bag.

Evelyn frowned. “No they don’t.”

I stared at the swirl of vanilla in my glass. “Kael took it. When Lana and I came back to the clearing?—”

“No, he didn’t.” Evelyn pulled her phone from her pocket. She scrolled, then turned her screen to face us. “Rowan has it.”

I blinked and read the message. Rowan had texted saying he would be late because he needed to store the dagger. Was he talking about the same one? “That’s not possible.”

Evelyn shrugged and set her phone on the seat. “You can call him yourself if you want.” She slid out of the booth. “I’ll be right back. I have to use the washroom.”

Lana leaned in the second she was gone. "Kael took the dagger.”

“I know.”

“So if Rowan has it?—”

“Stop, Lana.” I clenched my hand around my milkshake glass. I needed to think. Why would Kael take the dagger to Rowan? Why wouldn’t he tell us? Wait for us? My wolf had pushed a message to his, and I’d heard nothing back.

“Thank you, by the way.” Lana’s voice was low.

I looked up. “For what?”

“For not telling Rowan.”

She didn’t have to say anything else. Rowan had heard Bill talk about the legends. He may have his suspicions, but he didn’t see what had happened at the pools. Lana had been quiet the whole drive. I had no idea what was swirling through her head. Especially after what Bill had said to her as he died.

I leaned forward, taking another sip and using my straw to mix the ice cream into the milk. "I figured you had a reason."

Lana nodded.

When Evelyn returned, we finished our milkshakes, paid, and went back to the truck.

The drive back to the house was quiet, the only sound the hum of the engine and the crunch of gravel under the tires. The excitement from the meeting had faded, and all three of us had sunk back into our own thoughts. Our own worries.

I stared out the window, wondering where Kael was at that moment. My ribs felt too tight for my lungs.

Had he brought the dagger back?

I was simultaneously relieved and broken by that news. Yes, the dagger was safe. But that meant he hadn’t left the clearing to fulfill his contract. He hadn’t left me behind to protect his friend.

He’d left because he didn’t want a mate.

He’d left because he didn’t want me.

I thanked Lana and Evelyn as I dropped from the truck and stalked up my drive.

My home. It felt like an eternity since I’d been here. The house was quiet as I walked in, and I dropped my things in the entryway and took off my boots.

My bedroom door creaked as I pushed it open, and I stepped inside, closing it behind me. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the pile of work files on my nightstand. One weekend. I hadn’t even missed any work.

I nearly laughed out loud. I couldn’t even imagine going back to the office and pretending like the weekend had never happened. It was like I’d changed three sizes and was trying to put on my old clothes.

Nothing fit.

How could I go back to this? How could I sit in meetings? Sit in front of my computer? Make dinner or sit around and talk with Celeste and Blake?

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