With a deep breath, I set my hand in his.

The only change in his expression is a slight flutter of the muscles in his jaw. From his pocket, he withdraws a flask. He thumbs-open the lid and pours cool water over my sore skin. Not just any water—water that instantly heals the wound, erasing all redness and pain.

“Thank you.” Cupping my fingers, I splash my other hand.

He returns the top to his flask and stuffs it back into his pocket.

Are those cuts on his shoulder? It looks like he might have been grazed by some pesky thorns. I hate it when that happens. Back home, they used to snag my skirts something awful.

Hesitantly, I raise my damp fingers to the small scratches.

Everett stiffens beneath my touch, and his nostrils flare. In hindsight, I probably should’ve asked his permission the way he asked mine. Oh, well. It’s too late now.

Muttering an apology, I dry my hands on my skirts.

Everett drives a hand through his hair, sweeping the dark strands from one side of his forehead to the other. “Why have you come, Kerris Dawn?”

For some reason, knowing he remembers my name makes me feel as if I could fly all the way back to the cottage.

“It’s just Kerris. We’re friends so you don’t have to use my surname. And to answer your question⁠—”

A sudden wind whips across my cheeks, and Everett hisses out a breath, cutting off my explanation. He stalks past me to collect the missing panels, replacing them one by one, muttering, “You must return home.”

“But—” I haven’t even gotten to ask my questions.

Everett’s dark brows slam down over narrowed eyes. “Go. Now.”

The urgency in his tone leaves me whirling for my side of The Divide. Even though I know all the planks are there, I still hold tight to the ropes, just in case.

When I’m safely standing on Seelie dirt, I turn to find Everett only a step behind. The man moves like a shadow, not even the boards creaking under his feet. He comes to a halt on the final plank, his dark eyes trained on the ground.

His fingers flex and stretch at his sides, the muscles along his chiseled jaw jumping.

“Do it,” I say.

His head lifts and our gazes lock. Something deep and knowing stirs in my chest the same way it did the first day at the well.

“Go on. I dare you. Don’t let me be the only one breaking the rules tonight.”

With his gaze still on me, he takes the final step.

I don’t know why, but this seems like a small victory after the monumental failure of my visit to the Unseelie fae.

To my delight, Everett doesn’t stop there. He escorts me along the outskirts of the city, all the way to my aunt and uncle’s back gate.