She’d found other things instead. Chief among them, the existence of something that didn’t exactly mesh with her belief system—although it wasn’t entirely incompatible. God had made all kinds of creatures, and science couldn’t account for everything. Madeleine believed in things both seen and unseen, and what else was a miracle but an impossible thing made possible?

Hæra ought to be impossible. And yet, when Madeleine had realized the truth, she’d thought: Of course.

Of course she’s magical.

To the descriptors “odd,” “rude,” and “wildly attractive,” Madeleine now had to append “magical.” It seemed of a piece with the rest. Madeleine had taken one look into Hæra’s eyes, and a part of herself she’d buried long ago had leapt instantly to life.

Resurrected, you might say.

Hæra wanted something from Madeleine too, that much was clear. For one thing, sex, which wasn’t on the table. It was definitely not on the table. For a lot of excellent reasons. But Hæra wanted more than that. When you just wanted to have sex with someone, you didn’t pepper them incessantly with personal questions—or spend years of your life learning to live as a different species.

Madeleine’s fingers trembled, and not just because of the cold air. She squeezed her knees more tightly and kept her eyes on the sky instead of on Hæra, since looking at Hæra would only throw her into confusion again.

Hæra was trapped here, but Madeleine wasn’t. Choosing to leave would definitely be the smarter option. She could return home and start figuring herself out in the absence of any supernatural elements. She’d find a way to reconcile the beliefs she’d cherished all her life with what she’d learned about the world, and about herself. The ground would steady under her feet again. She just had to go home.

No, whispered a voice inside her. The same voice she’d heard in her hotel room when she’d been ready to change her flight. You’ll regret it. When else will you ever have an opportunity like this?

She’ll set you free.

Freedom. Answers. In their own ways, Hæra and Madeleine sought the same things. They weren’t going to find them separately.

Madeleine took in a shaky breath, exhaled it, and turned back to Hæra, whose expression was grave—bordering on worried. Hæra, of the apparently limitless confidence, worried? If the situation weren’t so serious, it would have been adorable.

“I don’t want to leave,” Madeleine said.

Hæra’s eyes lit up again.