Page 75 of Fall into Place

“Yeah.” Tess nodded. “I am.”

“I don’t want you to be afraid of me,” he murmured.

Tess’s chest felt tight. “Me neither.”

“It’s your choice,” he said again. “It’s whatever helps you sleep.”

Tess thought of all the nights she’d lain awake, at war with her memories, praying for sleep—an hour, twenty minutes, anything at all.

Callum didn’t want to hurt her. He just wanted her to rest.

“Okay,” she whispered.

She climbed into bed beside him, relaxing into the soft mattress, pulling the heavy covers over her body. He settled down on his side, facing her, and she did the same. Callum blinked heavily—once, twice—his thick lashes fluttering in the moonlight. It was marvelously strange, sharing a bed with a vampire from her favorite story. But the weirdest part about it was that, for the first time since arriving on this island—and maybe for a good deal longer than that—Tess didn’t feel afraid.

Chapter 18

When Tess woke up, the light was soft and white, like the prettiest morning sunlight filtered through the finest silk.

“Where are we?” She stretched in bed luxuriously, like a cat. The bed was all white too; the sheets were crisp and cotton.

“You’ve been here before.” Callum rolled over and smiled at her—not his usual teasing smirk, something sweeter. “Don’t you remember?”

“I don’t know this place,” Tess murmured. She was confused, but she also knew he wasn’t wrong.

“You could,” he said. “You just have to walk through that door.”

Tess looked behind her—he was right, there was a doorway. The door was made of white marble, patterned with the same ancient runes she’d seen on the door to Bar Between back in Vinegar Hill.

“There’s no silver tree with yellow leaves.” Tess was worried. “How do I know this is the right door?”

“The same way you know everything.”

He took her hand, and his skin was warmer than she’d ever felt it.

“The light,” she realized. “It’s safe for you?”

“It’s safe for both of us.” He kissed her palm. “I promise.”

“Come with me,” she urged, and he nodded. He didn’t need convincing.

She wore a nightshirt and he wore pajamas, the same cool cotton as their bedsheets.

“I’m so nervous,” she told him as they approached the door.

“You don’t have to be.” He squeezed her hand. “Everyone’s waiting.”

Slowly, she pulled open the white marble door, and when she saw what was behind it, she was so happy she nearly cried.

It was the library at Columbia, her favorite round room, an oak table piled high with books and a picture window overlooking a cluster of trees.

“Is this really happening?” Tess whispered. “How did we get here?”

“You found the answer,” he told her. “You brought us home.”

His smile was so beautiful, so kind—she felt like her joy was so powerful it couldn’t possibly be contained within one person’s body. She threw her arms around his neck, and he drew her close, holding her in his strong arms.

“Are you going to kiss me now?” She beamed at him.