Distracted by my thoughts, I handed it over without questioning him. It was barely lunchtime. I’d faced my parents, discovered my mom was staying indefinitely, learned Adira was tracking me with a spell, and now wore clothes that would have Mrs. Quill celebrating when she did the laundry. Which meant I had to hand wash this mess. How much more hell would I need to endure today?
“There,” he said, handing my phone back to me. “See? It’s not a problem.”
I looked down at my screen and read the text conversation in growing horror.
Me: Does dryad cum cause permanent stains on skin?
Mom: No, it’s perfectly safe. Why?
Me: I have some on me and am freaking out.
Mom: Baby, I’m so proud of you for expanding your palate! Dryad spend is completely harmless and delicious, too, if you want to taste a little.
I gripped my phone and tried to breathe.
“Does that look mean I’m running home on four paws?”
“Why, Fenris? Why would you tell my mom something like that?”
“You’re worrying about so much already, and I didn’t want you to add another thing to the list.”
“But now, I have,” I said, looking up at him. “My mom thinks I’m feeding on other creatures. She’s going to tell Adira. What do you think will happen then?”
“Nothing. You’re going to put your foot down and say you prefer me. See? I thought it through.”
“It won’t go that way. It never goes the easy way.”
He sighed and looked off into the trees for a moment.
“No, I don’t think it has for you,” he said softly. “Do you want to tell me what happened with Ashlyn?”
“Here? In the Drys Woods, where the trees have ears? No.”
“Somewhere else then.”
“Where? Between Adira’s spies and her spell, there’s nowhere I can go that will be private anymore. Gods, I wish there was.” Because now going home to change would no longer be a simple clothes swap, thanks to Fenris.
I wrinkled my nose as I realized I’d screwed up again by not texting a warning to Mom right away and quickly sent one.
Me: Please don’t tell Adira.
Mom: Baby, I’m so sorry…I already told her and am using your initiative as a reason she needs to leave you alone. Especially after her presence this morning. Forgive me? I’ll check with you first, next time.
“Mother Mary’s holy underwear,” I yelled a moment before I threw my phone. Fenris’s quick reflexes stopped it from sailing beyond his reach.
“The cabin is yours anytime you want it,” Fenris said, tucking my phone in his pocket. “And your tracking spell should be gone by Tuesday, right? You’ll have your freedom and a quiet place where we can talk.”
“I don’t trust those druids. Not after what they’ve already done.”
“Then we’ll find a different druid to help you.” He shoulder-bumped me playfully, which started me walking again.
“As far as I can tell, they’re all the same. Self-interested mercenaries who will perform any spell, regardless of its ethics or the harm it might cause others, all for a promise of payment or reputation gain. The girls should have helped as a result of feeling bad about what happened, not because they wanted something else from me.”
“Not all druids are like that.”
I arched a brow at him. “Oh? And you have a lot of experience with druids? What spells have you asked for?”
Fenris actually flushed.
