Page 123 of Find My Way Down to You

The surprise in Henri’s voice isn’t very comforting. He stands over me, eyebrows lifted. That playful grin of his is half its normal size.

Groaning, I choke out, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well…I wasn’t sure that would work.”

“Youwhat?!”

I sit up, even as my muscles scream to stay down. There’s aplush carpet underneath my palms. The spacious room glows warmly from the matching floor-to-ceiling windows on either side. At the center, an oil black throne embellished with gold leaves sits empty.

“He has never helped someone like you cross over.”

A sharp breath cracks my lips. Milos steps into my eyeline. I scan his strong square jaw, those elegant cheekbones. The cypress crown is bright against his dark hair. His mouth curves into an enigmatic grin.

“Hello, beautiful August.”

Henri reaches a hand down. I take it and stumble to my feet.

“Milos,” I whisper, unsure what else to say.

“It has been too long since you visited me.” He tilts his head, his honey eyes glinting. “But not since you have beenhere.”

My spine goes rigid. He knows I came back to Aides. With Cary.

Before I can ask how, he says, “This is my realm. Secrets cannot hide from me here.” There’s no anger in his tone. Only annoyance. A child whose favorite toy was stolen by their older sibling.

Embarrassment heats my face. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to be.” Milos strides closer. His halfway-undone shirt reveals clean lines of a defined chest. “But why are you here…now?”

I don’t know how much to tell him. If any of it will matter.

“I’m looking for someone,” I say, throat tight. “A soul. Someone who meant a lot to me in my world.”

One of Milos’s thick eyebrows flexes, intrigued.

“I haven’t been able to find him here.” My tongue feels thick, heavy with uncertainty on whether confessing will hurt or help me. I push on. “I’ve tried.”

“Have you?” He studies me more closely. “Aides is big. There are so many souls. Ones that you cannot reach.”

“But you could help,” I hedge. “You’re the prince. You decide where they all go.”

His eyes narrow, considering.

I hold my breath. My blunt fingernails dig into my palms. Hope is high in my chest, though I know it shouldn’t be. I gave up on hope and wishes a long time ago. But it feels like I don’t have much else left.

Finally, Milos lifts his chin. The light cuts along his smooth smile.

“And what of my brother?”

Fighting a wince, I say, “What about him?”

“Does he know you used him? To get here? To get closer to me?”

The truth of his words sinks sharp teeth into my skin. Shame runs cold in my veins. I used Cary. For his knowledge, his powers. For anything that could bring me closer to London again.

I knew what I was doing every step of the way.

But I didn’t expect him to be more than just a hard,uncaring face. Tolikehim in a way I haven’t in a long time. For it to ache so deeply when he figured it all out and wanted nothing more to do with me.