Page 29 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
Harlow motioned to Selene. “Mama, come take her. I have to go.”
Selene rushed to Aurelia, replacing Harlow’s arms with her own. “I don’t want you to worry, either of you. I am going to fix this.”
Selene caught her hand. “She’s right, my love. Don’t do anything rash.”
“Finn is different. I’ll fix this. Please let me go.”
Selene nodded, and Harlow kissed them both, and then went home to think.
ChapterFourteen
Harlow paced the floors of her apartment until the downstairs neighbors pounded on their ceiling. She hopped onto the bed to relieve them from her nervous noise. Her thoughts swirled uncontrollably. She needed to sort things out, figure out a way to stop all this and get things back on track with the Order. More than that, she had to find a way to keep her family safe from the McKays. She might be a ruined specimen of a witch, but she wouldn’t see her sisters sacrificed to them, nor would she see her parents turned out of their home.
There had to be something that unwound all of this—something that would set the Kranes and maybe even the entire Order of Mysteries free. It was a tangled knot of issues, and she had no idea where to start untangling it. Her head dropped into her hands in frustration.
Start at the beginning, she thought. But wherewasthe beginning?
The night in the Grove. The scream in the forest, and the fact that as far as she knew, she and Finn were the only ones to hear it. Somehow, in all this, they were connected. She didn’t want to think about the almost-kiss in the kitchen, or the way Finn’s hands had felt on her when he pulled her out of the drunk vampire’s way in the Grove, but she did.
It was hard to read him, but if she was honest with herself she knew he still cared for her, and after the things he’d said at her parents’ she knew a part of him longed for something she could give him, but that he couldn’t seem to have on his own: family. She’d always wondered what she could possibly have to offer Finn McKay, and now she understood; he had the world at his feet, but she had family.
Though she loathed the thought of giving his parents anything they wanted, her family was what was most important. She’d made her decision before she’d even left her parents’ house. There wasn’t anything left to do but try to get him to agree. She texted Enzo.
Do you have Finn’s number?
…
Yes, why?
I need to call him.
Call me first.
I don’t have time for this tonight. I’ll tell you everything over brunch tomorrow. Promise.
Finn’s contact info came through, with a message.You most certainly will. Eleven. My place.
Harlow took a deep breath and then called. The phone rang several times, so long she thought she’d get his voicemail, but then he picked up.
“Who’s this?” His voice was sleepy. She looked at the clock: nine-thirty. He was asleep at nine-thirty? Shouldn’t he be out partying?
“Harlow.”
He was immediately alert. “Harls? What’s wrong?”
She had to say it or she’d lose her nerve. “Can you meet me at our spot by the river?”
“Are you all right?” He sounded awake now, a bit panicked even.
“Yes. I just need to talk to you.”
“Okay.” His voice was hesitant. “I can be there in twenty. Do you need a ride?”
“No, I’ll see you there.”
She hung up and breathed, then changed into leggings and a sweater, sneakers, and a puffer vest to ward off the humid chill in the air. Then she scrambled down the stairs before she could think better of what she was about to do.
Harlow made the walk to Riverside Park in short order. She infused her vest with a tiny bit of magical warmth just for good measure as she folded herself up on a bench to wait. The pine trees in the park whispered in the cold nighttime air, and the scent of freshly mowed grass filled her nose as she waited. Chilly as it was in Nuva Troi, it was still spring and things were beginning to grow again.
