Zaria steps closer, her eyes softening. “No, it’s clear to me you care for him, but others won’t see that.”
I drop my head. “I don’t know why I’m drawn to him. Whenever he’s near, all I can feel is him. I don’t even know how I was able to find my way to his room last night.”
Nix tugs on my hair, and I raise my eyes to meet her fiery blue ones. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
My eyes flare, and a swarm of butterflies fills my entire body, leaving me dizzy. I glance at Zaria, noticing Asrai peeking out from her hair. I offer a weak smile before turning my attention back to Nix. It’s astonishing how such a tiny fairy can be so intimidating—I feel like a child being scolded.
“Yes,” I whisper.
Nix shakes her head sadly. “You both know this can’t work. You're human. No one will accept the two of you. All you're going to do is get your heart broken.”
My chest cracks with an overwhelming whirlwind of emotions. God, I just want to see Mia and Scarlett. I feel a tear rolldown my cheek, the weight of sadness heavy in my chest as I hurriedly swipe it away.
“Can I get dressed in private, please?” The words are barely audible.
I don’t watch as they leave the room, remaining motionless until I hear the door click shut. I plunk down on the bed, tipping my head back, desperately hoping gravity will keep the tears at bay.
“Why am I here?” I whisper into the empty room.
I have never felt like I fit in anywhere, but last night with Maxon, I finally felt a sense of belonging. Am I being stupid?
With a sniffle, I stand up and slide the dress on, noticing its soft texture. The dress is a tight squeeze, barely managing to fit over my hips and my chest. I snatch up the apron and tie it around my waist, the bow at the small of my back covering the gap made for Zaria’s tail. I walk over to the desk, picking up a small mirror to take in my reflection. My eyes are glassy, reflecting the emotions hiding beneath the facade. I reach up, lightly brushing my fingers over my lips as I recall how Maxon claimed my mouth. I truly love him, and now I don’t know what to do. If only I could escape and go back to my world, leaving all of this behind. If one night with Maxon was all I could have, so be it. But I can’t be around him and watch him move on. The thought makes me sick to my stomach. I wonder if someone in the village will be willing to help me cross through the gate. There has to be a way.
A soft knock on the door has me turning to face Zaria and Nix as they enter the room again.
“Oh, good, it fits,” Zaria sighs, her shoulders slumping in relief.
I give her a small smile, running my hands over the soft material. “Just.”
Nix flies closer. “We need to get you to the kitchen. Rayna is in there.”
"Oh, thank goodness," Zaria mutters.
“Who’s Rayna?” I ask.
“Rayna is my sister.” Zaria ushers me into the hall.
Nix follows me and gracefully lands on my shoulder, her wings delicately brushing against my hair. “Rayna is loyal and trustworthy. But we need to hurry.”
“If anyone asks, you wanted to learn how to bake the bread and asked to help us this morning. Okay?”
“Okay,” I agree, struggling to keep up with Zaria's brisk pace. The tight dress restricts my movement so much it makes it difficult to breathe. Stepping into a large room with stone walls, a wave of heat immediately hits me. Looking around the kitchen, I’m left speechless as my mouth hangs open.
The sheer size of this place is staggering, and the scent of warm bread fills the air, making my stomach growl in hunger.
“This place is massive.”
“This is just the bakery. You should see the food prep kitchen,” Nix says.
Zaria walks over to a young girl who looks like her twin, only minus the tail and ears. “Rayna, this is Everly. She has been helping us this morning in the kitchen.”
Rayna and Zaria exchange a knowing look, their eyes sparkling with mutual understanding. “Of course. So good to meet you, Everly.”
Then her hand reaches for the workbench, snatching up some flour and tossing it at me. I jump in surprise, my eyes immediately darting down to find the dress covered in a light dusting of flour.
“Umm . . . nice to meet you too?”
Rayna giggles, her brown feline eyes sparkling in delight. “Well, if you’ve been in here helping Zaria and me all morning, you have to look the part.”
