He saw Maggie at the vending machines on his way to Alice’s room. He paused when she looked up and caught his eye.
“Any word when her discharge will go through?” he asked Maggie.
She walked toward him, a cup of coffee in her hand.
“They’re just finishing up the paperwork.”
Dylan frowned. Why was Maggie having trouble meeting his eyes?
“So she’s up?” he asked, referring to Alice.
Maggie nodded. “She’s waiting for you in her room.”
A foreboding went through him.
“What’s going on?” he asked slowly.
Maggie shook her head. For the first time, she met his gaze squarely. “She’s just really confused. It’s a lot for her to take in. It’d be a lot for anybody to—”
“Maggie?” he interrupted.
“Just go talk to her.”
Alice was sitting on the edge of her made bed. Kuvi had brought her some clothing and her computer from their cabin, plus Dylan had brought her some things from the castle. She wore a pair of jeans, running shoes, and a short-sleeved fitted T-shirt—none of the items ones he’d provided for her. Her hair was clean, and brushed back behind her ears. Her face looked tense and wan beneath the discoloration of bruises and healing cuts.
In her lap, she held what looked like a folded piece of lumpy paper with staples around the edges.
“What’s going on?” he asked, taking several steps toward her. He saw the misery in her dark blue eyes when she looked at him. Shit.
“I’m going back with Maggie,” she said hoarsely.
“No.”
She winced. “I can’t keep doing this, Dylan. Camp is over. The kids are gone.”
“I know you came here for the camp. But are you really going to sit there and tell me after all this, that it’s the only reason you’d stay?”
“No,” she said in a choked voice. He felt like a bully, seeing the silent entreaty for understanding in her shiny eyes.
“I need time to heal and to think about everything and what it means to me.” He opened his mouth. “I need time,” she repeated, sounding desperate.
“Away from me,” he clarified harshly. “Do you think I don’t know you, Alice? You’re a loner. You dive for cover when you’re feeling vulnerable. It’s as natural an instinct to you as breathing.”
“I can’t just change who I am in a few weeks.”
“I realize that. But I also know that once you’ve found cover, you’re going to want to stay there. You’re not going to be able to hide this time, though. This is too big for you to blend into the background. It’s already begun to change you. You can’t go back to your old world and fit yourself into it again.”
“I have to!” she said, standing. She swayed slightly, and he reached to steady her, his hand cupping her shoulder. Misery and helplessness went through him when he saw her pain.
“You’re not running away from Addie Durand’s world. You’re running away from me. I know I’ve disappointed you—”
“You have never disappointed me,” she exclaimed, shuddering. “I love you. You’re perfect.”
“But you’re still going to run,” he realized with a sickening sense of finality.
She sniffed and brought her trembling under control. “You can contact me on my cell phone if there’s an emergency. But I called that man—Charlie Towsen, the chief legal guy for Durand—this morning. You can correspond with me about anything you think is crucial in regard to Addie through him—”
He shut his eyes. Jesus. She was back to saying Addie’s name like she was another person.