Page 87 of Captured in Love
“Here we go, a five-star couch,” he jokes. Then he sends me a sheepish glance. “I’d offer you the guest bedroom, but it’s currently occupied by two princesses.”
I grin, even though it feels weird to be smiling right now. “That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard.”
He smiles back. “Now I need to go and read them a bedtime story, or they’ll be in full revolt. Will you be okay out here?”
“Yeah. Thanks for everything.” I tuck my hair behind my ears. “But, um, do you think I could borrow your phone?”
Isak lifts an eyebrow but reaches into the pocket of his jeans, unlocks his phone, and hands it over. Then he pauses for a second. “I know you found me with your spell… But I’d like to ask you to keep the location of this village a secret. If you want to meet up with your guys, I can take you someplace else, okay?”
“Of course.”
He gives me one last long look and leaves for the girls’ bedroom.
And I open up his call app and type in a number I know by heart.
Thirty-Four
Nora
I settle on the couch,wrap the blanket around my shoulders, and call my father.
He’s had the same phone number for as long as I can remember, but I still chew on the inside of my cheek, worried I might have gotten the digits wrong.
“Hello?”
His voice brings fresh tears to my eyes. No matter how old I am, I still want him to hug me and tell me everything will turn out all right.
“Hey, Dad,” I croak. “Didn’t I tell you not to answer strange international phone calls?”
“Nora.”
My name is more of an exhale than an exclamation, and I sense the worry behind it.
“Yeah, it’s me.” My throat gets all tight and painful, so I swallow and add, “I’m okay.”
“Thank the gods. I was really worried when Levi called,” my dad says. “Well, Levi and Raphaël.”
I bury my face in my free hand. “What did they say?”
My father sighs. I can’t imagine any of this is easy for him, being the middle man between his adult daughter and hertwoboyfriends.
“They’re worried. And scared for you,” he says finally.
“Yeah, they would be,” I mutter. “Did they say where they were going?”
I grip the phone tighter, waiting for his reply.
“Greece, I’m pretty sure. Since your last task of the Ballendial Games is in Crete.”
I sit up straight, shocked into silence.
My father’s voice takes on a disapproving note. “Nora, if you wanted to do this, the least you could have done is talk to me. I could have helped.”
I’m going tomurderthe guys if I ever see them again. This is exactly what Ididn’twant, going into the Games. My family worrying about me even more than they already do, and worse, getting involved.
“Dad, this isn’t—” I stop myself, then try again. “I’m fine. I’m sorry Levi called you at all. Please don’t worry.”
“Darling, it’s a bit late for that,” he says. “I’m on my way to Wales where I’ll meet with the coven who will help with the rehabilitation of that poor witch you found in the hospital. They’re getting to her as we speak.”
