Page 15 of Bonded Ever After

Elora

All around me it’s loud and chaotic. School bands make their way through the streets playing music as people crowd the sidewalks, screaming and yelling. Venders walk around handing out free ice cream, hot dogs, churros, big pretzels, cotton candy, and more. Banners are strung on all the buildings and balloons decorate all the light poles. Big spotlights are pointed up at the new science building, which stands empty.

It’s a formidable-looking structure, with a big entrance into a gleaming foyer that screamsperfection. But other than the foyer, nothing else can be seen within the buildings. The windows reflect back the world all around us rather than what’s within, adding to the sense of secrecy around the building.

But maybe I’m the only one who feels that way about the place.

Sitting on a big plaque in front of the building is the name Walker in big letters, as they had dedicated the building to my mother. It was henceforth to be known as the Walker Building. Underneath her name is a smaller plaque with the names of Veric Perthran, Zave Radyn, and Ermes Railan. The three people who died in the fire along with her.

People had cried when they announced who the building was dedicated to. They’d held their loved ones. But I’d just stared at the building and felt… empty. Something about this place resulted in my mother’s death, and I’m going to find out what it is. Until then, I need to try not to feel too disgusted about them naming the new building after her when she wanted to destroy the other one so badly.

The council members are up on a big stage in front of the steps leading up to the building, and a crowd had formed around them. They’d already given their speeches, talking about how exciting it is to have their first building made entirely out of goldarium, and that it would allow them to make great strides in medicine.

“Isn’t this amazing?” a woman asks, stepping into my field of vision. “Your mom would be so proud.”

I attempt a smile. “Thank you.”

Fireworks explode in the sky overhead, drawing all gazes upward. Callum is suddenly in front of me, looking like an entirely different man. He’s wearing a black button-up shirt and white slacks. His hair has been cut and styled, and his beard is gone.

“We need to talk,” he says.

I want to. I want to see if he’s come up with a solution for our baby, but I can’t right now. Things need to be timed just right if I’m going to get into the building.

“Later,” I say.

He frowns, looking confused, which is when his mom is suddenly at his side. Her short hair is sleek, as always, and she wears her trademark white color, although, for once, she’s wearing a dress that covers her arms and reaches down to her ankles instead of a pantsuit. It’s got lots of harsh lines in a modern style that I don’t like at all.

“How are you enjoying the celebration?” she asks, and her gaze searches mine.

Time to lie.“It’s wonderful.”

“We thought you might like the building being named after your mom.”

“It was a very thoughtful gesture,” I tell her, trying not to grind out the words.

She clasps her hands together, looking between us for a brief moment before she says, “I wanted to let you know that you won’t be having your physical in two days. I decided it might be best to wait until after you return to Neverwood, since that should be your focus.”

I try not to look surprised. “Okay.” I want to say thank you, but I hold it back. A physical wouldn’t be something for us to put much thought into.

Callum, however, looks triumphant. “Great, Mom, thanks.”

She gives a tight-lipped smile. “Of course.”

It’s uncomfortable for a minute while she lingers between us, but then Councilman Vyn calls her name, and she tells us a hurried goodbye before rushing off through the crowd. I take a step away from Callum, wanting to get to that alley, but he takes a step closer to me.

“Elora…”

“I seriously can’t talk now,” I say.

His eyes narrow. “Why?”

I bite my lip.

He lifts a brow and gestures to the alley on the other side of the building, away from the one I need to go to. I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to talk to him right now, but I suspect he’s not going to leave this thing alone until we talk, so I nod.

We go there separately, trying not to look like we’re going to the same place. People stop both of us as we make our way there, and we’re both the picture of the perfect Gold Keepers. Whenhe slips into the shadows, I wait a few minutes before following after him.

When we get there, he pulls me behind a dumpster. “What’s going on?”

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