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Tommy turns to face me. “He’s going to be okay, Didi. Remember what Talia said. You helped him. He’ll never see life the same way again. He will appreciate it more now.”

We stand together as I take in his words, at how much he sounds like Talia, while also knowing it’s bullshit. She wanted him to burn, and she used me to do it. Finally, I turn and we run.

TOMMY

I’ve never ran so fast in my life.

I’m desperate to get Didi out of there, dragging her to safety, bolting through the dark forest toward our rendezvous point, abandoning our masks.

I stop mid-stride, turn her around, and pull her into me. Our breaths mingle in the dark as I fumble for my small flashlight in my pocket, knowing we would have to scatter. Pausing to catch my breath, I look around. The swigs of rum I had earlier are catching up with me. My chest is beating like a machine.

No one is chasing us; no one is here. It’s just me and Didi.

They saw her…

That was violent. Worse than violent. This was different from what we did at Smith Hall. This was targeted.

“Tommy,” she says, as breathless as I am. I lean my forehead against hers as our faces mingle. “I didn’t mean to do that.” Her eyes grow wide and wet as she adjusts to the light. “I burned him.”

I run my hand over her cheekbone. “Yeah, you did mean to do that, Didi. But that’s okay.”

She bites her lip as she draws in a breath. Not only did she light the match, but she was eager. She’s shaking violently in my arms, and I don’t blame her.

The adrenaline is insane.

I brush a strand of her hair off her cheek. “Shh. I got you, firefly. You did a good job.”

“Where is Remy? Did he make it out?” Her voice comes out haunted.

“He made it out. They all did.” At least, I’m assuming they did. I couldn’t focus on anything else other than Didi.

She peers up at me. “Are you sure?”

I flash the light through the trees to make sure no one is following us. “I’m not sure about anything anymore, but Remy is smart, Didi; he would have found a way.”

I brush her tears away, my hand tracing the curve of her face. In the darkness, I find her lips, trying to soothe her with mine. “Tommy,” she says breathlessly against my lips. “Did I pass Talia’s test? Do I get to stay?”

I revel in her taste, the smoky scent of the flames clinging to her skin. “Yeah, Didi, you passed. I’m not letting you go anywhere, okay?”

She better have passed.

She crinkles her nose. “Is Talia mad about what we did earlier?”

“I have no damn clue what Talia is feeling anymore.” If anything, she seemed happy Didi and I were together. The kiss she gave me in front of Didi hinted at more.

Having spoken with Remy at the Sheffield house, I now better grasp the puzzle that is Talia’s emotions. Her rage is intense, but fleeting, and she’s a master at channeling it through pure manipulation. When she loves, she loves so hard, and when she hates, it’s with savage viciousness. She’s more delicate than she portrays, which makes her really fucking dangerous.

I’m beginning to believe she’s obsessed with Didi. And Didi seems more concerned about pleasing Talia than anything else—an obsession I also understand.

The power of Talia’s approval is intoxicating. And while I grapple with my guilt of what we are doing every day, it’s also mind-blowing and addictive.

An owl hoots somewhere nearby, causing us both to jump. I twist around, trying to get my bearings in the woods that seem to have no end or beginning. “Come on,” I whisper. “Let’s keep walking; the cave is around here somewhere. We’ll find it.”

I take the lead, waving my flashlight to find the markers we left that will lead us to the cave hidden deep in these woods. I keep her hand tight in mine, because beyond this spot, the woods stretch for miles, and no one ever ventures beyond here. It’s too easy to get lost. The trees are gnarled—they hook and scratch—and the forest floor is littered with ancient roots and fallen logs. She doesn’t say anything, she just holds on to me as I lead her deeper into the forest.

“How much farther?” she asks, tripping on a protruding root.

I squeeze her hand and frown. “Not far, firefly. Want me to carry you?”