I served them both fat slices of birthday cake, which they devoured like they’d never eaten food before, and then, before I could convince them to stay, they scampered off back into the elevator, giggling, leaving Severn and me alone.
“I didn’t know they were planning this,” I insisted.
“Nor did I. They’re rather desperate to get us together,” Severn observed. Then he cocked his head. “Is it really your birthday?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, champagne shouldn’t go to waste. Nor should the children’s efforts, or else they’ll double down and scheme something even more ridiculous.” He poured us each a glass, giving me a smirk when I looked suspiciously at the liquid. “Don’t worry. It isn’t fae wine.”
We hadn’t seen each other since the stalking incident other than in passing. I suddenly found that I had no idea what to say to him.Be brave, Azalea had told me.It’s worth it. But Severn’s preternatural power and temper terrified me. Maybe he was right that fae and human shouldn’t get involved in friendship and especially not romance.
“You haven’t had any more scares in the city?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, thankfully. Kell’s been on top of it.”
Silence filled the space between us again.
“Locke told me what you said, by the way,” Severn said with a pretentious air, and when I gave him a confused look, he added, “About the prisoner on the thirteenth floor. I thought you’d like to know that we released him. Even though I am greatly disturbed by these rumblings of a possible shifter king, especially after you suspected werewolves were after you.”
I blinked, surprised both that Locke had conveyed my message and that Severn had acted on it. “Um, thank you. That was the right thing to do.”
He grunted curtly.
Not knowing what else to do, I sat down on the blanket that the children had laid out on the rooftop, taking small sips of my champagne. “Are you still worried there might be another attack?”
“Always,” he said darkly, then glanced at me. “But you shouldn’t worry. Leave that to me. Just keep Kell close.” He sat down a few feet away from me. The distance pulled at me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I wanted him closer, wanted to smell his heady scent.
I cleared my throat.Pull yourself together, Willow.
But I kept thinking of being in the shelter of his arms. And before that, our night on the island…
I nodded toward the harvest moon to change the course of my thinking. “There was a story my mother used to tell me about nights like these,” I told Severn. “She said the moon was a mirror that would show faeries their true loves.”
Severn snorted. “I know that tale, but your mother got it twisted. As the fae legend goes, the moonisa mirror, but it shows you your heart’s desire. That isn’t the same as true love. Your heart could desire wealth or beauty or vengeance over your enemies. Not just love.”
I rolled my eyes; fae were so concerned with semantics.
It was an unseasonably cool evening, and the wind was swifter so high up. I shivered. Severn frowned and shrugged off his jacket, handing it to me.
“Thanks.” Our hands brushed. I felt the zing of an electric spark. A dull yearning to touch him again blossomed in my chest, and suddenly no time at all had passed since our last kiss—we were back on the island where rules didn’t matter, where anything could happen. Andhadhappened.
“I do not compliment you enough, Willow,” Severn said softly, still looking at the moon.Hedidn’t seem to be thinking about that night like I was. “Compliments aren’t the fae way. But I’ve seen the change in Henry and May since you started caring for them. You’ve done much for them. They are flourishing, and I am in your debt. I do hope thatrecent eventsbetween us won’t steer you to leaving.”
Okay, so maybe hewasthinking about that night.
“I’m not planning on quitting,” I answered honestly. “You can stop being worried about that.”
“It just that I truly don’t know what they would do if you did. It’s hard to imagine this tower without your presence.” A muscle in his jaw jumped. I saw conflicted emotions warring in his eyes. After a moment of thought, he confessed, “It was wrong of me to say what I did on the island—that I wanted you to obey me. You have free will; just because it grates at me not to be in control of you doesn’t mean you should be.”
I bit my lip, thinking back to what Azalea had said about giving it a chance. “If you’ll forgive me for saying so, sometimes you can be ridiculously insufferable to be around. And sometimes…” I took a deep breath, mustering my courage. “You can be so captivating that I think I’ll shatter if you don’t touch me.”
He closed his eyes as desire rippled across his face. “Willow. Don’t say such things.”
I scooted a little closer to him, feeling emboldened by the crisp air and the privacy on the terrace. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about that night on the island.”
“Of course I have.” His eyes flashed. “Constantly.”
“I know what I’m getting into,” I whispered, feeling heat bloom around my neck. “I’m not as naive as you think.”
