Chapter 33

“Aurora!”

The sound of soles slapping against pavement dogged after me as I retraced the steps I’d taken to get to the diner, frayed in every single aspect of the word and aware, for the first time since I’d left my apartment that afternoon, of the funny looks I was getting from New Yorkers going about their businesses.

Shoulders hunched over as I continued determinedly forward; I ignored Elijah’s call, knowing that in the end, whether or not I heeded him would hardly mattered as he was bound to catch up anyway, and just as soon as I finished the thought a strong, familiar hand wrapped around my arm, stilling me in my tracks, though the momentum remained.

I didn’t hesitate, whirling around and letting my palm fly, so the slap which followed rang sharp and clear over the noise of engines igniting and trudging feet.

For a moment, it felt like we were the only ones in the world who existed, and I watched the star of our ve