Page 118 of The Evernight Court

“He did. I only figured it out after he sent his hatchling to attack you, knowing Storm would catch him.”

Exactly what I’d figured, too. “He wanted to get here since the beginning.”

Grey nodded. “He wanted to be out of the Whispering Woods because he knew how to get out of here. He knew exactly how to escape the Eighth Isle alive.”

So many questions… “What the hell is the Eighth Isle, Grey? Where exactly are we?!”

“It’s a tomb,” Grey said reluctantly. “It’s just a piece of land that used to be Ennaris, one very few people know about.”

“A tomb?” Was he serious?

He sighed deeply. “Syra’s body lies here.”

My heart skipped a long beat at the mention of that name,and it was like all the alarms in my head started ringing all at once. The story unveiled itself in front of my eyes and I saw Syra as I had in the Storyteller, and I saw the other sisters, the pirates, and Hansil Knight. I felt her rage all the way to my bones. I felt her heartbreak as if it were mine.

“My God, Grey…” Syra’s body actually existed, and it was here, on the Eighth Isle.

“It’s okay, baby. There’s no need to be afraid. The outermost layer of the spell was broken. The curse will no longer hurt us. Storm will fly us out of here as soon as we’re ready. We’ll be back in the Woods in no time.”

I shook my head. “But…butValentine. We have to see if he’s okay. He saved my life.”

“He did, and we will. We’ll pull him out if he’s still there. We’ll take him back,” he said, kissing my forehead. “Whatever he was planning to get by escaping this place, he will have to answer for it in front of the court.”

“Does Romin know what is happening? I tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen. Helaughedin my face.”

“Of course, he did,” Grey said. “Romin is a coward, but if he can’t rise to the occasion and do what needs doing, I’ll force his hand. Don’t you worry about it at all.”

“I do worry!” Was he kidding me? I knew those men. I’d been alone with them at their castle for twenty fucking days.

“It’s fine, baby. We’ll figure it all out as soon as we get back, okay? Right now, I just want to hear about you,” he said, grabbing my face in his hands. “The thought of you both drove me insane and kept me alive. I swear I tried to get to you with my everything. I swear it.”

“I know.” I sat up straighter, recognizing the guilt in his grey eyes. “I know that. Don’t you dare feel guilty about it, Grey.”

“Then tell me,” he said, kissing my lips next. “Tell me what you did, how you were. Tell me everything.”

I sighed, eyes closed as he planted kisses all over my face. The way the cave threw back the sound of his kisses was like a melody to my ears.

“I locked myself up in the tower and I slept in your closet. I have a new best friend now, believe it or not,” I muttered, and he smiled.

“You do?”

“Mhmm. Keep kissing me.” He didn’t hesitate. “He’s actually pretty handsome.” And he stopped again.

“He?”

“Yep. It’s a he. Very serious, won’t smile for nothing—and I told him some very bad jokes. We’ve had very deep conversations since you left.” He raised his brows, not sure whether I was joking. “The only problem was the conversations were very one-sided. He never said a single word to me.”

He laughed. “He sounds rude.”

“Very. The colors on him were incredible, though,” I muttered when he continued to kiss me.

“They were?”

“I mean, he’s literally paint on canvas, but he really is beautiful. I found him in your closet behind your clothes, hiding from me in plain sight, and I never let him go.”

He stopped. He turned away again, smiling ear to ear. “Are you talking about my portrait, Fall?”

“Yes, sir, I am,” I said with a grin.

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