Page 64 of Fall into Place

“I’m afraid,” she answered honestly.

“You should be,” a low voice growled behind her.

Tess’s stomach dropped. She whipped around to see Callum leaning on his cane, his fists clenched, his face lined with anger.

“Stay out of this, Yoo,” Felix warned. He moved in front of Tess, blocking Callum’s path.

“Me stay out?” Callum laughed coldly. “Mate, I think you’ve forgotten whose land you’re on. See, one word from me, and the entire clan will be out here to rip you apart. Might leave enough of you intact for your little friends back east to recognize you. But I doubt it.”

“Callum, please,” Tess implored, but he wouldn’t even look at her.

“Not one word,” Callum gritted. “I’ll deal with you when he’s gone.”

“Don’t you see how he is?” Felix turned to Tess. “This is why I’ve been so worried—”

“Worried about me?” Callum scowled. “That’s rich, coming from a sadistic little fuck like you.”

“I’m not the instigator of violence on this island, and you know that,” Felix said calmly. He turned to Tess, a pained look in his eye. “Please, Tess. You don’t have to stay with him. We can leave right now.”

Tess looked from Felix to Callum, utterly unsure whom to believe. Felix certainly seemed more trustworthy than Callum—but he had no idea Tess was human, and Tess had no idea what he would do if and when he found out.

“Just go, Felix,” she whispered.

“You want me to leave?” He looked hurt.

“I want us both to live,” she clarified.

“Listen to your girlfriend,” Callum taunted. “Be a good lad and run along.”

Felix looked pained—Tess felt a sudden wave of doubt. Was she an idiot to turn down a chance to go with him, and potentially to escape this island?

“All right, I’ll go,” Felix said to Tess. “Just…please, stay safe.”

Tess nodded once, then watched as Felix sped away, easily hopping the orchard wall, then streaking into the distance.

“How long?” Callum asked, his voice low.

“What do you mean?” Tess asked, though she had a feeling she knew exactly.

“For fuck’s sake,” Callum fumed. “How long have you been talking with Felix Hawthorn behind my back? Or was I right all along that he’s the one who sent you here in the first place? Did he kill Octavia—then give you her necklace?”

“What? No!” Tess huffed. “I met Felix the other day, after you left me in the forest.”

“Oh, that’s perfect.” Callum laughed meanly. “All alone in the moonlight, abandoned by the big bad, who should show up but your handsome hero? Bet you thought he was gallant.”

“I don’t know how gallant he is,” Tess sputtered, “I don’t actually know him at all.”

“You’re right about that part,” Callum seethed. “Your precious book has him all wrong.”

“Why?” Tess scoffed. “Because it says you’re a monster? You killed Isobel, didn’t you? You don’t think Felix has a right to be angry about that?”

Callum frowned in confusion. “Bloody hell do you mean? I didn’t kill Isobel—no idea who did.”

“You expect me to believe that?” Tess guffawed. “It’s awfully convenient, the way you have an explanation for every negative thing the books say about you—and every positive thing the books say about him.”

“So that’s it, is it? You wanted to be with your hero, so you hatched a little plan?”

Callum stalked toward Tess. He was leaning heavily on his cane, and she could see sweat beading at his hairline—he looked feverish and sick, far worse than he’d been even an hour before.