XXXVI

The best and worst moments of Elodie’s life happened end to end. She should have known, should have sensed that although everything felt right, everything was wrong. The universe had lifted her up in order to slam her back down.

Elodie wove through the crowds of people outside the fair, exiting Pearls and getting off the MAX, still in their fine dress from Holbrook’s funeral and all heading straight for the festivities. The scene of her crime.

She should have stayed at the funeral. Instead, she’d run away from one problem and crashed right into another.

Elodie’s lungs burned and her arms pumped by her sides in rapid bursts as she raced to catch up to Astrid. Wind brushed against Elodie’s cheeks and twirled through her hair, taking with it the deep forest scent of Aiden and his kiss.

Astrid paused at the intersection a block ahead. “Astrid!” Elodie continued to run, waving her arms over her head as she yelled. “Talk to me!”

Astrid didn’t turn back, didn’t wait. A Pearl stopped in front of her and she disappeared inside the opalescent orb.

By the time Elodie reached the corner, the Pearl and Astrid were gone.