“Chance we’ve gotta take, love.” He rose as well. “Grab your keys. Let’s go.”

I started heading toward my bedroom, then hesitated. “Damn. I told Seth I’d consider taking him with me. Too late now.”

Roman considered. “No, do it.”

“Why?” I asked in surprise.

“I’ll go invisibly. I don’t know if anyone’ll notice you leaving, but if they’re tracking you, better they think you’re on a romantic getaway. Even masked, I don’t want anyone in power seeing my face yet.”

That put me in a weird situation. Roman’s entire reasoning throughout all of this was increasingly bizarre. There was also the debate I’d had last night, about whether I should let the balcony date shine on us as my last beautiful moment with Seth or if I should eke out a few more seconds. Letting it end at last night would have been the poetic thing to do . . . but I was made of baser stuff. I called him as soon as I was on the road and picked him up shortly thereafter.

He rode in the front with me while Roman lounged invisibly in the back, which was creepy, to say the least. Fortunately, none of my talk with Seth was sappy or romantic. He sensed the urgency crackling around me and asked questions about my reasoning for the trip. I answered as thoroughly as I could, all the while trying to drive the speed limit. I couldn’t risk the delay of a ticket—or count on supernatural charms to get me off.

It took a little less than two hours to get there. We’d accidentally left the atlas at home but had all but memorized the directions anyway, which were straightforward. When we’d almost reach the park where the aforementioned rock was, I had the sense to call Peter and tell him not to go outside.

“You think I’m stupid?” he asked. “I know as well as you the stasis is about to end.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “But it might not end like you’re thinking.” We disconnected.

“This is it, isn’t it?” asked Seth. A sign directed us to the beach’s parking lot, and I turned toward it.

“Yeah, I think so.” I could feel myself starting to panic. “God, I’m afraid . . . I don’t know what’ll happen . . .” Seth reached over and patted my shoulder.

“Easy, Thetis. This’ll end the way it’s supposed to. Do what you have to do, and we’ll manage the best we can.”

I parked the car and looked over at him. So much burned between us, it was a wonder it didn’t suffocate Roman. Seth was right. This was the end, and we would face it and do what needed to be done, no matter how hard. That was one of the wonderful things about Seth. He knew what the right thing was. We got out of the car.