Page 76 of The Poison Season

“I asked my mother about it later that night. That’s when she told me about Nigel Thorn.”

Despite her anger, Leelo whispered the name, just to hear how it felt on her lips.

“It was a mistake not telling you. I know that now.”

Leelo turned to look at her cousin. “Why?”

“Because you would have known to be careful.”

“Of what?”

“Of men. Especially ones from outside.”

Leelo’s blood ran cold. Sage hadn’t said that Leelowould knowto be careful in the future. She had said it in the past tense. She steeled her voice the best she could, trying to keep her expression vague. “I’ve been told my entire life how dangerous outsiders are. Why would you think I’d trust one?”

Sage studied her for a long, uncomfortable minute, and Leelo couldn’t tell if her cousin truly knew about Jaren. But it was enough that she suspected. She had to get him off the island, before it was too late.

If it wasn’t too late already.

Chapter Forty-Six

In the day and a half since the girl had seen him at the watering hole, Jaren hadn’t slept or eaten. He’d contemplated attempting his own escape, not relishing the idea of spending his last hours as vulnerable as a plucked chicken. But he knew he couldn’t leave without seeing Leelo one last time.

When the door to the cottage finally creaked open in the afternoon of the second day, he glanced up but was too weary to stand. His breath left him in a rush when he saw that it was Leelo. She hurried over to him, and he pulled her into his arms.

“Thank goodness it’s you,” he breathed into her hair.

“Of course it’s me,” she said, leaning back to look into his eyes. There were shadows beneath hers, as if she hadn’t slept.

“There was a girl in the woods, the last time you came. I went to bathe after you left, and while I was underwater, she snuck up on me.”

Leelo’s breath caught, and she closed her eyes, but she didn’t seem surprised. “Not Isola, I take it?”

He shook his head. “She had auburn hair and freckles. She was watching me from the bushes. I think she wanted me to see her.”

“It was Sage. I thought she might have seen you. I came as soon as I could, I swear. I don’t think she’s told anyone about you. Not yet, anyway.” She laid her cheek against his chest. “I’m so sorry. You must have been so scared.”

“I was worried aboutyou.” She’d told him the consequences if anyone discovered she’d helped him, and as much as he wished she would come with him, he knew how devastating banishment would be. He set his chin on the crown of her head, relishing this closeness. Saints, all he wanted to do was kiss her. They’d only had the one night together, and he would have done anything for one more. But he was grateful they’d had that much, at least. One perfect night was surely more than most people got.

She squeezed him tighter. “It’s only a matter of time before she talks, Jaren. We have to get you out of here. Tonight.”

He’d been anticipating this, but the words still stung. She wasn’t coming with him, after all. “I already packed.”

“My mother and Isola will meet us at the cave. We have to hurry. Sage told me she was going to visit Hollis today, but I don’t know how long she’ll be gone.”

He hesitated. He had to ask one last time so that twenty years from now when he was still missing her, he’d know he tried his best. “Leelo...”

“I can’t go with you,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I’m so sorry.”

“Are you sure?” he asked gently.

Her voice broke when she said, “No.”

They held each other for a minute, all the time they could spare, and then he wiped her tears away while she did the same for him.

She waited outside while he disappeared into the cottage. He emerged a moment later with his few belongings: a waterskin she’d given him, the clothes on his back, and in his left hand, the little songbook.

He smiled, looking a bit sheepish. “Is it all right if I keep this? I won’t tell anyone about it ever, I promise.”

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