Page 19 of Golden Star

“Sure,” she says, even though I know that with Zoey, quietly listening is easier said than done. “Go ahead.”

So, I do, starting from the disastrous proposal and continuing from there.

There are a few times when Zoey wants to interrupt. But she controls herself and lets me talk, although I can tell by the way she’s looking at me that she either thinks I’ve lost it or am making all of this up.

“And… that’s all of it,” I tell her when I’m done.

She says nothing. Which is more unnerving than any reaction I could have anticipated.

Zoey is the most talkative person I know, but apparently, I’ve shocked her speechless.

“You really believe all of this,” she finally says.

My stomach drops. Because it sounds likeshedoesn’t believe it. Not a word of it.

“I do,” I reply, ready to fight her on this until she knows it’s true. “Because it’s what happened.”

She presses her lips together, deep in thought.

“Do you think that maybe the woman pushed you down, and you hit your head, and that it knocked you out?” she finally asks, speaking softly, as if she’s afraid that one wrong word is going to make me break.

“No. I drank that water. And then I ended up in that other place…” I trail off, unable to bring myself to say otherrealmagain.It sounds so ridiculous. “Where I sawhim. The guy from the bar.”

Riven.

Just the thought of him makes my lips tingle from the memory of that kiss.

“Right. You saw him when you were a ghost hovering on top of a silver-leafed tree.” She’s clearly having a difficult time processing this, which I suppose is understandable. “With his pet snow leopard. Which caused you to come back to life and use water magic to attack them.”

“Umm… yes?”

“Then show me,” she challenges. “Use you water magic, so I can see it for myself.”

“I’m not sure how much I can control it,” I say quickly. “When I was there, I wasn’t trying to do anything. It just happened.”

“Then make it happen again,” she says, as if it’s that simple. “Because right now, I’m thinking it sounds like you hit your head pretty hard. You might have a concussion. Which means it’s probably a good idea to see a doctor. It’s New Year’s Day, but the hospital should be open?—”

“No.” I hold my hands up, stopping her mid-sentence. “I’ll try to do it again. But I need some water to work with.”

Sapphire

I stand up,make my way into Zoey’s bathroom, and turn on the sink.

In the fae realm, the water responded to me like an extension of myself. But now, I don’t know how to begin.

Zoey leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Pressure builds in my chest. Ihaveto do this. If I don’t, she’s going to make me go to the hospital. It’s probably the same thing I’d want her to do if the situation was reversed.

But last night was real. I’m sure of it.

So, it’s time to show her that I’m not losing my mind.

I clench my fists by my sides, frustration bubbling under my skin as I stare at the water with every ounce of determination I have.

Nothing happens.

I try again, and still, nothing.

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