Page 31 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

He looked down at it, almost perplexed. “Shouldn’t have trusted that rich fuck,” he murmured.

He tossed the thing down, letting it clatter to the ground. “Okay, plan B.”

I raised one brow. “Plan B?”

He nodded. “We have to go to Maralda.”

“Who?”

He shook his head. “She’s a mage who lives on the outskirts of the Tyrell forest. If anyone knows what to do, it’s her.”

I didn’t know who he was talking about. It definitely wasn’t one of the healers I knew of. “I’m sure if she was that powerful, my parents would have asked for her help.”

“She doesn’t leave the forest,” he said. “And not many people know about her.”

“But you have, what, some special pass?”

He smirked. “You could say that.”

I sighed. This was ridiculous. “I’m not going anywhere. Now let me go.”

“I can’t. Listen.” His gaze was so intense I couldn’t help but hang on his every word. “I need this necklace. It’s important, and I know she can get it off. Don’t you want that?”

At least knowing he wanted something from me made me pretty sure he wasn’t going to try and murder me.

“So, what exactly is it you’re offering?” I asked.

“I will help you get that necklace off and relieve you of its burden,” he said easily. “And then I’ll take you home, like nothing happened.”

“Sounds like a lot of you getting what you need and not a lot in it for me.” Though the idea of having this necklace released from me and being free of it had me giddy deep down. But I’d been tricked many times before and had no interest in being made a fool again.

He rolled his neck. For the first time, it felt like I could potentially detect some… worry?

“Fine,” he said, shrugging. “If you want to be stuck with that curse around your neck forever, be my guest.”

“What do you mean curse?”

He lifted a brow. “Something that magical and powerful is most certainly some kind of curse. Not something I would want to be tied to.”

I tried to keep a steady keel, but I could feel the intense rush of nerves washing over my body. My heart pounded against my chest, blood rushing through my ears. It was a feeling I did everything in my power to keep at bay.

Stop. Stop. Stop.

Trying to force it never made it any better, but what else was I supposed to do?

I looked down at my shaking hands, trying to steady them.

“Sage,” he snapped at me.

He drew my attention, making me gaze right into those hazel eyes.

“Take a deep breath,” he said.

I tried following his directions. It was something I had always been told, but it didn’t do much.

But I was surprised when he grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. One that was almost so hard it hurt. Yet it was… grounding in a way.

“You’re not going to battle, we’re just talking.”