“It’s a lot different out there, McKale. A lot. It might be weird at first, but it’ll be fine. We’ll be together.”

He nodded, and this time it was his turn to look down at my mouth. I held my breath and savored his absorbed interest. When my lips felt suddenly dry, I gave them the smallest lick, and he jolted in his seat.

“Aww, look at you two,” Cassidy said. She fluttered her eyes at us and sighed, laying her chin on interlaced fingers.

McKale scratched his cheek.

“Right, then. I’ll fetch Rock,” he said, standing. My sister and I watched him retreat into the trees, then we grinned at one another like a pair of exalted deviants.

Oh, yes. Tonight, we were taking McKale and getting the heck out of this place. I could hardly wait.

Take that, FFG.

I THOUGHT CASSIDY WAS going to give us away with her erratic behavior all night during the Leprechaun festivities. She strummed her fingers on the table and shifted nonstop, staring at the sunset and glowering at the partying Chaun. Our family sat together at a table while the music played and people danced.

“You’re sure hyper all of a sudden,” Mom said to her.

“She wants to dance,” I blurted. “But… nobody’s asked her.” I sent Cass a warning glare that I hoped would make her chill.

“I’ll dance with you, chickadee.” Dad stood up and held out his hand, which she accepted, and she seemed relieved to be doing something.

Mom and I watched them for a bit. Then she got up from her side of the table and came over to sit close next to me. She ran a hand over my hair, then the backs of her fingers down my cheek—all the while gazing at me like I was some kind of miracle. I didn’t mind. It was one of those mom things I loved, although at the moment it made me feel guilty since we’d hatched our secret plan of momentary escape.

“Do you need more time before the binding, Robyn? Because I’ll tell Brogan myself, if you do.”

Ah, so that’s what was on her mind.

“I don’t know.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “Maybe ask again in a few days?”

She smiled. “Okay. Is there anything you want to know? About what to expect… after the binding?”

My face warmed and I peeked around to make sure nobody was listening. “I don’t think so, Mom. You’ve already explained everything.”

“Well, the science of it, yes, but there’s so much more, love.”

There were a lot of things I wondered, but I didn’t know how to articulate them. Right now, the thought of binding and sex and all of that made me feel like I was taking the drop on a roller coaster. I was too nervous. I wasn’t ready.

She wound my hair behind my ear and her eyes shone. “I’m always here if you need me. Your father and I will visit every year. I promise. And I’m certain Cass won’t be able to stay away either.”

Now she was making me feel a little weepy. I hated thinking about being here without my family. Especially while things weren’t one hundred percent stable. But would things here ever be stable with the FFG lurking? Would she continue to interfere even after we were bound? Angry discomfort reared inside of me. Each time I started to feel normal and happy, I remembered her and all cheerful thoughts vanished.

Mom gave my cheek one last pat, and we turned to watch the party together. Mom kept an eye on her man, and I watched McKale. He sat on the stump again while the other musicians stood. I had a feeling he didn’t like to stand tall in the midst of the other Chaun if he could help it. He tapped a foot and moved the bow at hyper-speed as the song reached its crescendo, the volume rising to meet demands of an exuberant, stomping crowd. He caught my eye and winked.

It was my first McKale wink. I leaned my chin against my palm and smiled into my hand.

That night seemed to last extra long, but the moon was finally high and the crowd began to thin. Mom and Dad called the party quits, kissing us girls and then strolling to their room arm-in-arm. Soon the band was packing up. Cassidy and I went to McKale.

“Let’s go back to our rooms to get ready,” I told him. “We’ll come knock on your door to get you when it’s time.” Half of his mouth went up in a grin, like he was still unsure but humoring us. He agreed, and we went our separate ways.

Cassidy and I were on a sheer adrenaline high. We ran to our room, tearing through our clothes as quietly as we could and putting on the best outfits we’d brought—black pants and shiny tank-tops. We took our tiny purses with as much money as we could stuff in them, plus lip-glosses and IDs. Cassidy had snuck into our parent’s room during dinner for the car key. Time to go.

Opening the door a crack, we found that the coast was clear and tiptoed out of our bungalow, holding our heeled shoes in our hands. I led us to McKale’s room, since of course I’d stalked my binding mate to find out where he slept. And I didn’t even feel like a creeper for doing it. After all, it was my future room, too. I placed a hand on my stomach, feeling flutters.

I tapped on his wooden door, and he opened it, stepping out with care to stay quiet. He stopped and took in the full sight of me, paying special attention to the fitted pants. At first I feared that he thought I looked funny, but his stance and appreciative gaze assured me otherwise. He was being the tiniest bit bolder toward me lately, and I liked it.

The three of us shared rebellious expressions before ghosting our way around the bungalows, passing the big Shoe House, and rounding the corner. Rock was already there, sprawled across the hood of the car. Cass ran to him for a hug, and he spun her around. They kept silent, which amazed me.