I recognized the guilt in his voice. How many years had I spent feeling guilty over my father’s death? If I hadn’t asked him to go out at that precise moment to buy food for our new puppy, Dad wouldn’t have been hit by that drunk driver. I felt responsible for his death for a long time afterward, burying myself under the weight of my own guilt.

I tried another tactic. “Tell me about her. The girl you left behind.”

A tortured expression darkened his features. “That’s the thing—everyone says I found my mate and she was willing to return with me. The Elders said it was my decision to leave her behind. But I don’t remember any of it. I don’t remember her at all.”

Even though I already knew this, it still hurt, hearing it come straight from his lips.

“But when you said you were at The Promise Ball for me, I thought for just one second that maybe you were her.”

So close, I thought.

“What changed your mind?”

“Because you’re not her. I think I’d know if my mate were here. From what I’ve heard, even from Ever, I really loved her. So much that I didn’t want her to live in Judaculla.”

I will show you, I thought.

“Then who am I?” I asked.

“I’m not exactly sure. You’re definitely an outsider. You claim to know Ever. Maybe you knew her in her world.” James scratched the side of his neck. “But since you and Ever aren’t friends, I doubt you’d be here for her. Maybe one of the other girls? Maybe you’re here to get one of them out.” He zeroed in on me. “Is that why you have the Bound Book? Do you think you can bargain the book for her release?”

Anytime I had his attention, I tried to keep him focused on me. I felt the longer we interacted, the more likely he would remember something. Anything. All I needed was a way in, and James had just given me one. Although I hadn’t come here to rescue a girl, I hoped I’d be able to get Calla out as well as James and Tobias. So, his logic wasn’t too far off.

“Yeah,” I said. I quickly concocted a story that paralleled the truth. “A friend of mine is here.”

“Who was she for?” James asked, almost absentmindedly.

“Haden,” I said.

James smiled. “Haden’s a good guy. It must be hard for you to understand the way we do things here, but you don’t have to worry about your friend. Her name’s Calla, right?” I nodded. “Haden told me all about Calla. He really loves her.”

“Still, it’s not right, the way she was tricked into coming, is it?” I asked.