Page 154 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
Being a troll got some getting used to, but five years was a long time toget used to it. And if I portaled back to Earth, I’d be doing so as a troll … which also wasn’t ideal. At this point, I had an amazing lover, a beautiful home, a fulfilling job, and a healthy body with epic muscles and no back pain.
So I was probably an idiot for pursuing my original goal.
Julian’s expression darkened when he heard what I’d said. “Which timeline?”
I answered as honestly as I could. “After we reach the dungeon, there is a split. One where I’m here, and one where I’m not.”
“Then we don’t need to go to the dungeon.” Julian stood up and came around the table, kneeling at my feet. He grabbed my hand and pressed it to his cheek. “If Henrietta defeated the dungeon before, she can do it again. I’ll contact Nilheim—”
I hurried to say, “Julian. You can’t just give up like that—”
“Can’t I?” he argued, still on one knee. “Can’t you?”
I shoved my chair back and stood, pulling my hand from his grasp. “I need to complete this quest … I have to.”
“Is it your quest or mine that is going to separate us?” he asked, bracing a hand on the table to stand. Julian didn’t grant me any space, chasing me as I tried to put distance between us.
He could see the answer on my face.
“Gerda.” He reached out and grabbed my arm. Not hard but not kind either. “What aren’t you telling me? What does Alice know that you’re so afraid I’ll find out?”
“I—” The words caught in my throat, and I closed my mouth. I stared at where he held me, knowing for a fact I’d messed up.
Julian never let anyone in. He was a hurt, angry man who’d watched his father die in a civil war and then spent his entire life trying to fill his father’s shoes. For every two steps forward, Henrietta had been forced to take one back while she was trying to win over the dark, brooding duke of the North.
But he’d melted in my hands like butter.And I’d let it happen.
Whatever he saw in me, Julian suddenly dropped my arm. He looked away and rubbed his face with the palm of his hand, drawing in a sharp breath.
When he looked at me again, there was a sad smile on his lips.
“I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean—I wanted you to tell me when you were ready.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, angry that I couldn’t even tell himwhy. I crossed my arms and held myself.
“No,” Julian said, stern. “I knew what I was getting into when I fell for you.”
“Did you?” I countered, though it wasn’t fair to lash out at him with my own secrets.
“Gerda, I’m datingMadame Potts.” He choked on a laugh. “EvenbeforeI learned the truth, I could see that you were a walking ball of secrets—theleastof which was your identity as Madame Potts.”
I remembered our first official meeting, when I’d handed him a locket and then run away.
Julian continued. “And being together with you means that there willalwaysbe secrets between us. You know everyone’s business from here to the Empire of Sands, every possible timeline for anyone you set your sights on, and everybody’s secrets … including my own.”
“I can’t seeeveryone’sfuture,” I mumbled.
“But you can seemine.”
“… Technically, no,” I replied. “I get notifications from Fate telling me things about you with an ability. Mysightability only works on the champions for each god.”
“And?” he pressed, knowing I had other powers.
“And Foresight lets me see what my target would be doing in a timeline where I didn’t exist,” I added. “So yes, Icouldlearn things about you that you don’t want me to … but I’ve changed fate so much that it’s almost moot at this point.”
“And yet, there is still something you aren’t telling me.” His silver eyes met mine, and I felt a twist in my stomach.
Was there any reasonnotto tell him?
