“I know you do. But it’s not enough,” Fairy said. “I think there’s always going to be a part of you that’s in love with Spirit.”

“That’s not true—”

Fairy shook her head. “It is. Everything will be right, though.”

And as soon as she told him that, she realized it really was true. She was sad, but not upset. Deep down inside, she’d probably already known that Wolf was supposed to end up with Spirit. “Everyone except Spirit knew you had a crush on her, and I should have known those feelings were too intense to just go away. We’re so intertwined with our geminas. If I thought of Broomstick as more than a brother, I can imagine how complete that love would be.”

“Fairy, we can work it out. I want to. I know I’m a terrible boyfriend—”

“You’re not. But I don’t want to be the consolation prize. I deserve better than that, and so do you.”

“But—”

She stroked his cheek. “Let’s end this while it’s still good.” But it wasn’t easy to say, even though she knew it was the right decision. Her mouth puckered, as if she could actually taste the tang of bittersweet.

“That’s it?” Wolf’s head fell forward, like his neck was no longer up to the task of holding it upright.

“Please don’t be sad, Wolfie. You’re still one of my best friends.”

“I wanted more than that.”

“You’ll have it, just not with me. You’re supposed to be with Spirit, and you can be, because the old rules don’t matter anymore. There’s no one around to enforce them. Either we die before the Society is saved, or it will be rebuilt but completely different. There’s no going back to the way things used to be.”

Wolf closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Fairy said.

He exhaled and opened his eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re remarkable, you know that? Someone’s going to be really lucky to have you one day.”

“I know,” Fairy said, and this time, the smile came more easily. “Do you want to walk back with me to the shack?”

He shook his head. “I’d like to be alone for a little bit.”

“Of course.” She pecked him on the cheek one last time.

Wolf began to walk away, shoulders hunched, but he stopped after a couple steps. “Um, let the others know we’re still leaving for Dera Falls at dusk.”

“All right.”

Fairy watched as he left, going only a few yards before he shifted into his wolf form. Then he broke into a run and leaped into the air, disappearing into the clouds and leaving only the memory of blue electricity behind.

Chapter Forty-Three