Page 36 of White Little Lies

“Fair enough,” I sighed. Though hopefully she was planning on staying to help us clean up. I seriously needed a nap.

“Do you have any idea who would have wanted to hurt your sister?” Braxton asked.

Seraphina hesitated. She knew Braxton, had met him a dozen times, but she still didn’t trust him. I wasn’t sure she fully trusted anyone. I could relate.

“She said your uncle was poisoned too,” I remembered out loud. “If that helps.”

She furrowed her brow. “I have twelve uncles, and not a clue who would want to harm any of them.” She turned away again. “All I know is that my sister is not safe, but there is nothing I can do. I am exiled. I cannot cross into my family domain. I cannot access our well.”

“I’m sorry. We never would have sent her back if we had known your parents wouldn’t believe her. She seemed to think everything would be fine.” I tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder. When she didn’t shrug me off, I gave it a squeeze.

“I have to do something.” Her voice trembled. “I have to find a way back inside, if only to pull her out.”

“How were you communicating about the packages?” I asked.

She lifted her head, turning eyes shining with unshed tears my way. “With the packages themselves. I always included the next drop off where she should grow the flower, which she was to destroy before returning home.”

If she only went out to get the packages once per month, it was a pretty big coincidence that she was poisoned right before she left. “What if she didn’t destroy it? What if the poisoner knew she would be leaving, and used it to cover their tracks? It would look like she was attacked in the park. Even the trees said so.”

Her mouth formed a little tremblingohof surprise. “You’re right,” she gasped. “The coincidence is too great. This means she was attacked because of me.”

I lifted my hands in a soothing gesture before she could break down. “Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. This is all just conjecture. First we need to figure out how to reach her before something else happens.”

“We?” Everyone in the room but me asked at once.

I looked at each of them. “Yeswe. She’s an innocent girl. We can’t just let her be killed.”

I jumped as Seraphina abruptly grabbed my hand, but all she did was squeeze it. She met my eyes steadily, her tears still glittering. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I’m not sure if a nymph boundary is one I can cross.”

She continued squeezing my hand. “I will tell you everything I can. Just please bring my sister back to me alive. If exile is the price she must pay, then so be it.”

I looked at Gabriel, who gave me a slight nod. The nymph lands weren’t in this realm. They were a near realm, sure, but they also had a boundary to keep anyone else out. Not only would I have to attempt traveling to the correct place, I would have to cross a boundary to do it. Not to mention dealing with the nymphs on the other side.

If I was going to manage it, it would take at least one of mybatteries.

Maybe more.

14

“This iswhere you'll want to start.” Seraphina pointed to a spot on her hand-drawn map. “You can’t bypass the main entrance, but as long as you don’t go near the well, you shouldn't have trouble with any of the protectors.”

I looked across the coffee table at her. “Protectors?”

“They watch the well at all times. But if you go straight to Aaliyah’s chamber, you can find her before anyone finds you.”

I drummed my fingers on the table, not liking the sound of anyone finding me. Of course, I had to make it into their realm first.

“And she will know how to show us out?” Gabriel sat beside me. He had refused to leave for the entire discussion.

Seraphina nodded along with his words. “She will show you to the nearest portal. The one that lets out near the lake.”

I barely heard her because I was looking at Gabriel. “What do you mean us?”

“You'll be using my magic to jump. I know you can take me with you. Plus, it will be good practice traveling with another.”

“You sound like Sebastian,” I muttered.

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