He cupped my face in his hands. I didn’t know if he pulled me to him or If I dragged him down to me, all I knew was his lips on mine. This kiss wasn’t passion, it was desperation. It was suffocation. It was like being under water swimming for the surface in a panic before you drowned. The world spun and my body grew weaker, yet I held him tighter.

When he finally broke away, we were both gasping for air.

I fisted his shirt in my hands. “Did I cause you more pain by returning to our home all those times?”

“When you’re drowning every little breath of air keeps you alive.”

I groaned and buried my face in his chest. “I am stuck.”

“I know.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “This was, is, a lot to ask of your soul when it does not remember.”

“Tegan figured us out.” I pulled back and held up the notebook for him to see. “And she gave me a spell.”

His brow pinched in the middle as he took the notebook and read Tegan’s note. Then he smirked and shook his head. “She is terrifying. I’m quite obsessed with her.”

I snort-laughed. “Me too."

“Did you do the spell?” When I nodded, he brushed his fingers down the side of my face. “Did it help?”

“Yes. I think so. I feel . . . lighter. There’s less, like, pressure on me.” I patted my chest. “I just want to finish this quest and come home to you. I want to see Auryn, and Akecheta. And Rae⁠—”

“Rae is alive and well, I promise.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m afraid he can’t be trusted to control himself around you until after this quest. He is a bit too . . . excited.”

I grinned. “I can’t wait to meet him for real.”

“Then step out of this tunnel⁠—”

“Have I messed up the future already? I accidentally said things⁠—”

“You mean telling Rae the war would last a hundred years? Luckily, I knew better than to ask and he managed to keep it to himself.”

“Do you know how this goes for me? My return to Avolire and the page⁠—”

“Yes, I do,” he whispered. “And you know I cannot tell you.”

“I know.” I shoved the notebook back into my bag. “But perhaps you can help me get to the right year in the past?”

He nodded and held his hand out.

When I took it, I spotted something I hadn’t seen before I left. My ring. Butterflies danced in my stomach. “My ring. You still have it.”

“It did not leave my finger until Halloween night, then I hid it for your safety.”

I pulled his hand to my mouth and kissed it. “I love you.”