“Pleeease,” May begged him.
After a little grumbling, Severn checked his watch and said, “I suppose I can spare a few minutes. I want to observe how you are faring as their caretaker, Willow.”
I swallowed, scanning my memory frantically. Had I left the apartment a mess? Had I put away my dirty bras? Left out our cereal bowls?
The elevator dinged at our floor lobby, and to my surprise, Severn bent down to pick up two bags of groceries. Azalea and the children helped as well, and we all carried the groceries into the kitchen.
While Azalea helped Henry and May tear open the packages on a hunt for graham crackers, I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. Severn’s presence in the apartment was almost smothering. That ethereal beauty that you just wanted to stare at endlessly like an eclipse.
“I’ll, um, get the fire going,” I said.
Severn followed me to the fireplace, watching as I got soot all over my knees and coughed as I inhaled smoke. An amused smirk crossed his face.
Well, I’m glad my clumsiness entertains him. Now I just have to keep from getting fired.
“They’re really good kids,” I said, not sure how to make conversation with a fae prince. “Have you started looking at schools to send them to in the fall? They should be around other kids more. In a proper education system…”
“Hmm.” Severn remained silent.
I stood up, dusting off my hands, and lowered my voice, though the kids were far enough away not to overhear us anyway. “I don’t mean to pry, but what exactly happened to their father?” If I was in danger, I wanted to know.
A muscle tightened in Severn’s jaw. “An accident.”
I wanted to press, but it was clear he didn’t want to discuss it further. It was only after an awkward stretch of silence that he reluctantly added, “Their father, Marco, was employed as my personal messenger. He corresponded with the other North American and European fae courts. It is useful for fae to have human messengers, as humans are seen as somewhat neutral. Marco was able to enter rival court’s buildings that I am not, speak with other regents that I cannot.”
“But he wasn’t actually neutral, right? Since he was your friend?”
Severn’s eyes narrowed, and I knew I’d somehow said the wrong thing.
I swallowed, “I only meant that I’m surprised. It seems unlikely for fae and human to be friendly.”
“It is.” His voice hardened considerably, and I felt a shiver run over my skin. I had to remind myself that Severn was capable of things I could only imagine; his power was vast and terrifying. “Just because I considered Marco a close confidant does not mean I feel the way about any other humans. That goes for you, too. You may live in my tower and take care of my wards, Willow, but you are nothing to me.”
The blunt cruelty of his words cut deeper than I’d expected. For a moment, I wasn’t sure how to respond. After the initial shock, anger started to build in my chest, but I tamped it down, reminded myself he was my boss and had a reputation for being a jerk. This was only proving it true.
Jerk?I thought.No. More like total asshole.
“I see.” Stung, I wiped my sooty hands on my jeans and looked around for a lighter, trying to hide how shaken I was by his harsh words. “There must be a lighter or matches somewhere…”
“Let me.” He flicked his hand toward the fireplace as though swatting away a fly, and flames burst amid the stacked logs.
Even though I’d had the fae sight for several days and had gotten somewhat used to seeing supernatural people walking around the city, it was still shocking to see magic done so effortlessly.
May ran up and shoved a bag of marshmallows into Severn’s hands. It always surprised me to see how his gruff manner had no effect on her. She clearly adored him; she only giggled when he growled and grumbled.
“What are these puffy things?” He looked at the bag with disdain.
“You put it on a stick.” I picked up some metal skewer sticks that we had ordered online. Ripping open the bag, I stuck a marshmallow on the end and handed it to him, not meeting his eyes. “Roast it, you know? Like how you roastmefor just being human?”
He raised his eyebrows, shocked by my boldness. I was a little surprised with myself, too, but there was only so far a girl could be pushed.
Oblivious to the tension between us, Henry demonstrated by roasting a marshmallow, glancing up at Severn every few seconds as though seeking his approval. May pushed between them with her mouth already smeared with chocolate. I still felt a little sick after he’d scolded me, and I fell back a little to where Azalea was watching from the kitchen.
Henry coached Severn on how to blow out a marshmallow that had caught fire, and May giggled when Severn instead summoned a gust of wind to put out the flames.
“Ineverthought I’d see this,” Azalea muttered quietly to me, shaking her head. “Prince Severn roasting marshmallows.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, keeping my voice low. “He’s pretty…stern, isn’t he?”
