This was bad—worse than anything yet.

You were halfway down the stairs, carrying one of Claire’s suitcases, when the front door opened. Everyone froze. Miss Peregrine stood stiffly as Barron entered, blade pressed to Jake’s throat.

Your gaze met Emma’s. You took a hesitant step down, but Miss Peregrine turned her head just slightly, her sharp eyes warning you to stay put. Fingers gripping the rail, you froze.

Barron ordered some of the children to move, and still you didn’t. Only when Miss Peregrine gently urged everyone along did you join the others, lingering at the back. Your eyes flickered yellow before you forced them back to normal.

Then it was only you, Jake, and Miss Peregrine with Barron.

You glanced at her, fighting a growl when Barron’s grip tightened on Jake. But then she said your name, and your eyes dimmed back to normal.

“You can’t go,” you pleaded. She inhaled shakily, her hand hovering as if to trace your cheek. You leaned forward, forehead pressed to hers, jaw clenched, eyes shut. Her hand slid to the back of your neck.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” she whispered. “They need you as much as I do. Promise me.” She squeezed lightly, grounding you.

You swallowed hard, then nodded. She nudged you into the room. When Jake was shoved inside after you, she gave the children one last look, thanked them for being hers, then closed the door.

You stared at it, fury building as Miss Avocet explained the grim truth. You snarled at her, kicking the couch against the door with Bronwyn’s help.

Chaos followed. Fighting a Hollow. Sliding through the collapsing loop. Olive and Enoch dragging you back before it sealed. Boarding Emma’s submerged boat.

And now—facing a pack of Hollows in Blackpool. While the others fought, you and Jake ran to free the ymbryns. Jake struggled with the main cage while you rushed straight to Miss Peregrine’s.

“Fay,” you breathed, fumbling with the lock—only to freeze when Baron entered. Your eyes flared yellow.

“Well, look at you,” Baron mocked. “Still a lapdog to that bird. First Abe, now Jake.”

Jake glanced at you, but spoke up to distract Baron while you finished. One by one, the ymbryns escaped. Miss Peregrine slashed Baron as she slipped free, giving you one last look before fleeing through the window.

The fight blurred. You transformed, sinking your teeth into Barron’s arm, but his hand morphed into a blade and stabbed into your ribs. Pain tore through you. You staggered, but Emma grabbed you before you collapsed.

Enoch rushed over, grabbing your other side. When you transformed back to human they pulled you back as the fight ended, Jake defeating Barron once and for all.

You hardly heard the children saying their goodbyes to him. You glanced his way only once before turning, blood soaking your side, you walked back through the London loop. You weren’t staying. You needed her.

The world shifted as you stepped into the past again.

And then—you saw her perched on the top of the boat in bird form.

“Fay…” you breathed, almost breaking as relief poured through you.

You climbed the stairs despite the pain. She dropped down, transforming back with a soft cry. The moment her feet touched the deck, you collided with her, arms wrapping tight around her. The breath rushed out of both of you, but you didn’t care. Even bleeding into her clothes, you held on. You buried your face in her neck, inhaling deeply, a shaky sob escaping. She pulled back only slightly, cupping your face gently, careful of her nails.

“I thought I lost you,” you whispered, tears brimming as your forehead pressed against hers.

Your hand slid to her arm, exactly where her wing would have been. “How bad is it?” you murmured. “If you had enough strength to turn back, it’s not hurting you that much, right?”

She looked at you, eyes softer than you had ever seen. Her thumb brushed across your cheek as she shook her head faintly.

“Always worrying about me when you’re the one bleeding,” she whispered. “I am hurt… but I endure.” Her voice trembled, breaking for the first time. “What I cannot endure is losing you”