Page 33 of Edge of Wonder

“What was your last wish?”

She rubbed the metal pendant between her fingers, and her voice trembled slightly. “That I’d wake up.”

Over her shoulder, the portal was almost green. “It seems to work pretty well. What would you wish for right now?”

Her brow creased, and she released the pendant, letting it swing gently in the air. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s not going to come true.” She shifted anxiously on her feet, scuffing the tip of her boot into the ground. The air was heavy with the scent of pine, and a light wind ruffled the ends of her hair. Alice tilted her head back and breathed deeply. “You were right before, about the way the forest smells. A little adventure, and a bit of the unknown. It’s fitting. I have no idea what’s coming next, but it’s invigorating. I can see why you wanted to go off on your own.” She flashed me a sad smile. “Sebastian? Do you ever wonder if the mirror got it wrong? And this was as far as we were meant to go?”

The portal had turned green. It was time.

“Come here, Alice.”

When she was right in front of me, I took the necklace and turned her around. Brushing the hair off her shoulders, I placed the chain around her neck and secured the clasp. The tips of my fingers skimmed the smooth skin of her back. The mirror wasn’t wrong. Not about her. I’d just been denying the truth for so long, I didn’t know if it was possible to stop.

Alice gripped the clock pendant in her fist, almost as if she were attempting to make one of her wishes. She scuffed her foot again, seeming to stall for time. A few seconds slipped by, then a few more. Indecision clouded her features as she darted a glance at the portal. But instead of taking her first step home, Alice cursed under her breath and stepped closer to me.

“I can’t believe I’m going to do this. But you only live twice, right?” She exhaled a shaky breath as her fingers grasped the folds of my shirt and tugged. Her determined gaze locked onto mine, and she went up on her toes. Our breaths mingled, and I thought for sure she’d follow through—waited for it—but she hesitated and uncertainty overflowed in her eyes.

She’s never done this before.

There were no forlorn suitors pining away on some deserted beach. There was just me, in this moment. And it was a bad idea.

Horrible.

Disastrous.

I just didn’t care anymore.

My mouth brushed over hers. Slow at first as if I’d be able to reverse course; go back in time and decide not to ruin my life. Then she moaned in the back of her throat, and Iwantedruin.

I framed her face with my hands, molding her mouth against mine. She welcomed it, matching the intensity. Her inexperience was devastating because she didn’t know how to cloak her emotions. She didn’t know to hold herself back. To guard her heart.

Foolish, Alice.

Pulling back, my gaze swept over her flushed cheeks and expressive mouth, but a flash of light glinting on steel stole my attention.

The brutish man with the diamond tattoo separated from the tree line. He raised a knife, winding back his arm and taking aim. Alice was right in front of the portal. If she reached back, she could touch it with her fingers. My mind was a step behind his actions until instinct took over.

Alice’s hands reached for me, turning my face back to hers. Hope glistened in her eyes as she pleaded, unaware of the danger lurking steps away. “Sebastian, I know it’s impulsive, but come with me—”

I shoved her with both hands. The force sent her back a step, then she was falling, breaching the gleaming edge of the portal. Her features twisted in shock as the portal dragged her inside. Then she was gone.

The knife whistled through the air. With my arms still extended, the blade sliced my forearm. Blood gushed from the wound, dripping onto the forest floor. The mercenary strode toward me, pulling another knife from his belt. His boots ground into the dirt, coming closer until he noticed the portal waver. It was losing its energy, flickering weakly.

He changed course, deciding to go after Alice.

I dove after him, tackling him to the ground. We landed hard, and it knocked the air from my lungs. He rose above me, hammering his blade into my torso. I rolled at the last second and his blade sank into the soil.

The portal sputtered as I gained my feet. There were only a few seconds left. Stay or go. Fight or flight.

Just as the portal winked out, I jumped.

Chapter 12

Alice

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