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There was just one thing I had to take care of first.
I pulled out of the garage, my eyes squinting in the afternoon light. The sun caught the emerald stone of my ring, twinkling at me like a message. I had no choice but to leave without goodbyes if I had any chance of helping Lach next. I only hoped Ciara and the rest of the Nether Court would understand, that Haley wouldn’t worry, but there was only one other person I couldn’t walk away from, and if I had to ditch my phone on my way out of the city, this might be my last chance to use it.
I took it out and prayed Channing had been paying his bill. Because I couldn’t leave my brother behind. I wouldn’t lose anyone else.
“What?” Not the friendliest greeting, but I nearly sobbed with relief that he’d actually picked up.
“You answered.” The words were as raw as my throat, and I had to swallow before I broke down.
“Cate, what’s wrong?” No longer angry with me after our fight. Just worried. Just family.
I stopped the car and began punching an address into its navigation system. “I don’t have time to explain. I need you to meet me at my house in twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes? What the hell is going on?”
“Just do it. Promise me.”
He paused and finally sighed. “I’ll be there.”
…
I drove like the Wild Hunt was chasing me, and when I pulled up in front of my quiet, empty house, I saw Channing sitting on the doorstep. I jumped out of the car, grabbing Lach’s mysterious phone and the leather bag. I swore under my breath when I realized I didn’t have my house keys—and Channing kept losing my spare.
He popped onto his feet, drinking in the expensive car I’d just arrived in. “Is that a Range Rover?”
I ignored the question and grabbed his hand. “I need you to break into my house.”
His eyes bulged. “Cate, what the hell is going on?”
“I’ll explain, but we only have a few minutes.” I had no idea how Lach planned to buy me time or how much of it I had before Bain came after me—and every second I spent before making that call was another second with Lach that I lost.
“I can’t—”
“It’s not illegal if I’m asking,” I cut him off. My landlord might disagree, but what choice did I have?
Channing studied me for a minute, his brows nudging together like he was assessing my state of mind. “I can pick the locks.”
I had never expected such disconcerting information to be so comforting. Channing went to work while I held up my phone’s flashlight. Each lock took two minutes, and then we were inside.
“I just want to grab a few things.” I tossed him the bag and the phone, trying to ignore the now very overdue library books on the coffee table. “Keep an eye on that.”
“Why?” He stared at the Nokia. “This thing is an antique. Does it even work?”
“It’s supposed to.” It had charged long enough to power on. “It’s going to connect us with someone who can help.”
“Help?” he repeated, the color leaching from his face. “Why do we need someone to help us?”
“I’ll explain later,” I promised him. “Just don’t break it.”
I booked it to my room to grab the little clothing I’d left behind when I made my temporary move to the Avalon. I’d never expected that I would be leaving here for the last time then. I shoved the clothes into a backpack and paused to look around the room for anything else I wanted to bring with me. But all I saw was secondhand furniture and little else. Things that meant nothing to me. As if this life was those borrowed library books—always waiting to be returned.
Channing was digging through the leather bag when I returned to the living room. Rolls of cash were strewn on the couch. “You aren’t going to believe this.” He tossed me one of the passports.
I opened it to find a blank page, but as I frowned, my photo appeared, along with a stranger’s name and information. A magical escape ticket.
“Cool, right?”
I forced a smile. I didn’t know if it was a spell or a glamour. I wasn’t going anywhere, but I could get Channing out. I clung to that. “I told you I would explain on the road. Get that back together—we’re going to need it. And don’t forget the phone.”