“Tell me what? Tell me what, Harper?” he demanded.
She slipped her gaze to Aria. “He’s fine. Grandmother is watching over him.”
“Who?” Gray asked her.
“Connall Darling,” Harper told him. “He’s safe! I swear it!” she insisted when Aria swooned like one about to faint.
“You both didn’t know he saw his sister and ran through the rift?”
“He…ran,” Aria echoed, closing her teary eyes. “Yes, that’s exactly what he would do.”
“Remember, Aria,” Harper said. “It’s two years before the accident.”
Aria nodded, her heart threatening to burst with joy for Conn and fear for his life. “We have to bring him back to 2022, Gray!”
“No, Gray you can’t go back,” Harper advised. “Grandmother will send Mr. Darling back. With all the time jumping, the Blagdens are being watched. We will all be separated by time if Grandmother is caught. Please, trust her to protect Mr. Darling until it’s safe to send him back.”
“How is she going to protect my brother?” Aria demanded, interrupting the topic.
“Aria,” Harper said earnestly. “Grandmother loves your brother. She’s known him since he was a little boy. I’d even venture to say there are things she knows about him that you aren’t aware of.”
“Impossible, I know—”
“In 2024, he never registered for his classes for next semester.”
Aria blinked and her eyes filled with tears. “What?”
“He had no intention of letting you sweat and slave to pay for his courses. He’d gotten a minimum paying online job and was paying for his night courses.”
Aria swiped her cheeks and shook her head. “That doesn’t mean he can handle it back there.”
“He is what he once was, Aria. Hewillhandle it, just as you did.” Harper said, smiling with Aria and wiping her tears. Then she turned to Gray. “You can’t go back. Don’t go back. Even if Timothy is given your title and plans to rule over the people. Don’t go back, no matter what happens.”
“What about Will?” Aria asked. “I think he was shot by Mr. Cavendish—” She stopped speaking when Harper looked down.
“As far as I know, the young Mr. Gable didn’t make it.” Harper still didn’t look up at either of them. “He was shot by Mr. Cavendish, who stumbled into the ballroom and saw William trying to help you. Harry Gable also perished when his brother collapsed to the floor before his eyes. Distraught, he leaped for Mr. Cavendish and reached him an instant before his sister did. He was struck down by your father’s men. Sarah was almost killed as well. Mr. Darling saved her.”
“My brother?” Aria cried and tugged on Gray’s sleeve. “I’m thankful he saved Sarah, but they’ll be after Conn now!”
“Grandmother won’t let anyone harm him,” Harper did her best to reassure her again.
She turned her attention back to Gray. “Listen to me, Grayson. Your father saw the manner in which you left. When you disappeared into thin air, the Cavendishes jumped on the opportunity to call you a warlock. They begged your father not to allow you to return and to imprison you if you do. They would no doubt request the high council to burn you at the stake.” At this, Harper paused to wipe her eyes.
Aria didn’t really know what she expected Gray to say. Maybe, ‘That’s okay, Harper. I’m not going back.’ Something of that nature. But he remained silent, breaking Aria’s heart with each second that passed.
Harper looked at her. The older woman’s teary eyes made Aria want to cry with her. But she didn’t. Why would she when she wouldn’t let him go back? His enemies wanted to set him on fire and watch him burn! The more she thought about it, the more sickened she became. How could men be so heartless? She didn’t blame Gray’s mother for dragging the men who tried to burn her into the chaotic future.
“I plan on forgetting the past,” Gray finally said.
Aria slipped her hands down his forearm and entwined her fingers with his.
He looked down at her and smiled. She tried to remember a time when he didn’t smile upon seeing her. A fire came to life in her belly, warming her insides.
“I’m glad to hear that, Grayson. Of course, you’re already wealthy here. Grandmother made sure to secure your inheritance and invest it.” She pulled a thick envelope out of her oversized purse and handed it to Gray. “You own a safe deposit box at the bank. I noted the name of the bank on the documents inside the envelope. The key is inside with the rest of what you need, I.D. and all that. Miss Darling will help you go through all of it. You have different types of accounts with savings. There’s a debit card in the envelope, as well as three credit cards. Money is at your disposal. You don’t need to go back.
“Aria,” Harper finally gave Aria her full attention. “Thank you for whatever you’ve done to his heart. I always feared he would walk straight into the flames. Before I knew about my sister, I knew that if his enemies found out that he could communicate with animals, they’d try to accuse him of practicing magic. I was glad he’d forgotten for so long.”
She looked at him with shame in her loving gaze. But Aria didn’t think Gray saw. His gaze was fixed on somewhere she couldn’t see.