“I brought you here.” Everest walked around the couch from behind me. He sat on the coffee table, our knees touching as he brushed his fingers over my face. “You fell asleep standing up.”

I grimaced. “Oh boy⁠—”

“You used a lot of magic in that fight and then the Prince siphoned some off of you.” Everest took my hands in his. “You’ve been out a little while now.”

“Where’s everyone else?” The living room was mostly empty. “What happened?”

“They’re in New York tending to the school and the students. Making it safe for them.” He cocked his head to the side. “What woke you?”

I pulled one of my hands out of his to rub my left forearm. “There was a sharp pain here.”

Everest gently pulled my arm out to inspect. We both gasped then leaned forward to get a better look. There on my skin, beneath my Tower Mark, were lines of elegant black writing.

“What does it say?” Mei-Ling asked over my shoulder.

Everest cleared his throat, then read the words aloud. “Upon thy arm my word has come. To find the page crumb by crumb. On this night take thee rest, time comes near for thy quest.”

My stomach rolled so hard I gagged but nothing came out. My quest. I’d somehow forgotten for a brief moment that I was taking a solo quest back in time. I had no interest in being Marty McFly though it was clear I didn’t have a choice. It didn’t make sense why I had to go alone. To why I was the only one who could sneak through Avolire to find the throne and the page. Hell, Braison had lived there. Cooper and Bentley had gone inside with me that night. They knew their way around.

“Frankie?” Mei-Ling squeezed my shoulder.

I jumped. “Yeah?”

“Do you have your bag ready?”

I scoffed. “Ready to time travel? How the hell am I supposed to know what I need?”

“I will see to the bag,” Everest spoke softly. When I looked to him, he wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Tegan and Bentley have already begun filling it. I will see to the necessities⁠—”

“Everest—”

“Oh, I also threw some stuff in there. Tegan said it was allowed.” Mei-Ling giggled.

“I think I know,” his voice was even softer now. “We wanted you to be ready at a moment’s notice⁠—”

“Everest.”

His gaze slowly lifted to mine. I saw my own fear reflected in the blue and white of his eyes. “You need not worry what to pack, we shall prepare for you. Right now you just need⁠—”

“Everest.” I leaned forward and let myself crash into his chest. “Just hold me tonight?”

He sighed then scooped me into the cradle of his arms. “Mei-Ling, tell the others I have taken Francelina to rest. If they need us, they can come find us.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

SAM

“THEY’RE SOULMATES?”