“Has Rory said anything else?” I asked, brows high on my forehead. “Anything more about what happened out there?”
Cade shook his head, frustration creeping into his face. His teeth ground together. “No. Still the same story.”
My stomach twisted. Glad as I was that we had Rory back safe and sound, I felt strangely unsettled about the whole thing. Mostly because Rory was adamant the woman in the woods hadn’t harmed him.
She’dhelpedhim.
After he fell down that slippery incline, he’d been hurt. Injured. He’d laid at the bottom of that hill for hours, calling for someone to come.
Finally, someone had.
According to Rory, she’d carried him across the marsh, to the ramshackle cabin. She’d given him a blanket and fashioned a rudimentary brace for his twisted ankle. And, for four days, she’d tended to him — bringing food and water.
She never spoke.
Never touched him, except to check on his splint.
“Do you believe him?” I asked.
Cade exhaled a sharp breath. “He has no reason to lie. He’s talking. He’s eating. Doesn’t seem scared or even particularly shaken up, given what he’s been through. Doctors checked him over, top to toe. He’s healthy, besides the ankle. Psychiatrist said the same thing.”
“That’s good news.”
He nodded. “Mhm.”
“You don’t seem convinced.”
“I just—” Something flashed in his eyes for a moment before he locked it down.
“What is it?”
“Wouldn’t mind being certain, that’s all.” The apple of his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “But I hesitate to suggest— To ask if?—”
“Out with it, Hero-Hair.”
“Goldie…”
“Out. With. It.”
He sighed. “It might put my mind — and Georgia’s mind, especially — at ease, if you’d… You know…” His eyes were intent. “Talk to him.”
Comprehension flashed through me. “You want me to touch him and trigger a vision, to see if his story aligns with what actually happened.”
Cade gave a shallow nod.
“Let’s go, then.” I turned and started walking toward Rory’s room without delay. A hand flew out and caught me before I made it more than a few steps.
“Imogen, wait.”
My brows were high on my forehead when I met his gaze again. He looked deeply conflicted.
“What is it?” I asked, confused.
“I didn’t mean right now.”
“This shouldn’t really wait, though. Right? Isn’t this whole shebang sort of time-sensitive?”
His lips flattened. “You still don’t have to do this.”