Page 38 of Fallen Star

I hadn’t thought of it that way.

And my hearts breaks at just thethoughtof her “broken at the bottom of those trees,” like he just said.

But that’snotwhat I found.

There’s still hope.

I have to hold on to that hope. If I don’t…

He’s telling the truth,I tell myself to calm myself.He can’t lie. He wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t think it was the truth.

It helps.

A bit.

“But we still have to find her,” I insist, although some of the panic ebbs from my voice.

“And how do you suggest we do that?” He raises an eyebrow. “We have no idea how fast those dark angels can fly, or what direction the one who took her is heading. For all we know, they could have changed course the moment they were out of sight.”

I want to argue. I want to scream that he doesn’t understand how much it hurts that I failed Zoey. But the calm determination in his voice, the unshakable logic—it’s like a lifeline, dragging me back from the edge.

“So what?” I finally say. “We just give up? Leave her to die?”

No chance.

I’ll never give up on her.

Never.

“No.” The gentleness in his voice surprises me. “We keep going. We find the ancient woman. She knows secrets older than both courts combined—she might be able to help us locate Zoey. At the very least, she can tell us more about these dark angels. About where they might have taken her.”

“But that could take days,” I say. “Weeks, even.”

“I know.” He moves his hand from my wrist to my cheek, and the tenderness in his touch makes my breath catch. “I know how much she means to you. I’ve seen it in the way you look at her and protect her. The way you fight for her.”

A tear slips down my cheek. “She’s all I have.”

“That’s not true anymore.” His thumb brushes the tear away. “And I promise you—we’ll find her. But we have to be smart about this. Strategic.”

I study his face—the determination in his silver eyes, the way his jaw is set with resolve. This isn’t the cold winter prince who sealed our deal with a kiss. This is someone who understands what I’m going through.

Someone who might care.

Someone who’s lost someone he’s loved before, and who doesn’t want me to suffer that same fate.

Or someone who’s doing everything he can to get me to focus on getting the ingredients for that potion for his father, instead of trying to help me save my best friend.

Unfortunately, no matter what his motives are, he’s right. We have no idea where to go to find Zoey.

The ancient woman might be our only hope.

“Okay,” I finally say, taking a shaky breath. “We’ll do it your way.”

He nods, dropping his hand from my face. “The stars are still clear. We should keep moving while we can.”

I look up at the sky, searching for the pattern that will lead us forward. Lead us to answers.

Lead us to Zoey.

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