“She won’t take no for an answer,” Nash said at my right. “And she’s the best baker in all the realms. We thank you, Ailis.” He nodded respectfully and winked at me.
I accepted with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
A soft moan escaped as I took a bite of the warm, cinnamon-sugary treat. The bread melted on my tongue, soothing my senses in a way I couldn’t explain.
I didn’t realize I’d been eating with my eyes closed until Nash’s voice pulled me back.
“It’s a dough ring. Good, isn’t it?”
“Mhm,” I mumbled around the last bite.
Nash guided his horse to a hitching post and dismounted. Taking my mare’s reins, he tied them securely while I finished the treat. I didn’t mind the gesture. It gave me a moment to savor this cinnamon-scented joy; the sweet aroma almost took my breath away.
“You should try one for breakfast sometime. Heat it up with your element—hey!”
I quickly dismounted, pressing the towel into Nash’s hands before darting toward the source of the aroma as his voice followed me. Where was that scent coming from…?
I wove politely through a scattered crowd, careful not to be a nuisance during my first hour in the Shadow Glade. Then I halted in the middle of the street. Ahead was a tiny shop, half the size of the others. Its front wall was actually a bar, separating the workspace from stools where customers could sit.
Behind the bar stood a tall, broad-shouldered man with onyx-black hair that danced in the breeze. His leathers clung to every inch of him, and in an instant I remembered how it felt to have his powerful body wrapped around mine.
I didn’t need to see what he was doing to know. The scent in the air, combined with knowing Rhodes… I already understood.
He turned, breaking my daze. His gray-blue eyes widened in surprise—clearly not expecting me. Then they softened with recognition, and he tilted his head, smirking devilishly—his pesky dimple making a teasing appearance.
“It isn’t your favorite mug. But—” His voice dropped as he looked down at the coffee in his hands.
“Thank you.” The words barely escaped.
He showed up.
And hestayed.
Amid all the chaos of the past weeks—all the pain and despair, the uncertainty of everything and everyone around me—he was the light. Guiding me toward safety in the most destructive storm.
A beacon.
The idea cut through my chest like a dull, rusted blade. I fought my body’s reaction, breathing slowly through my nose to stave off the sudden lump in my throat. I forced my hands to steady as I reached for the hot cup in Rhodes’s grasp.
I stepped closer, savoring the aroma of coffee mingled with cashmere sandalwood and vanilla. His fingers brushed mine; I tilted my head up to meet his towering presence. My lips ached to be on his, but I held back. We stood there, silently accepting the moment where our storms might collide.
Then everything crashed against the walls I’d built around myself. I pulled back, taking the mug as his hands hovered midair, unsure whether to let me go. His shoulders slumped—barely noticeable to anyone else, unmistakable to me. My heart crumbled at the sight of him, yearning from a distance.
Rhodes dipped his chin before disappearing into the crowd behind me, and my heart tugged as if it were walking away with him. I averted my gaze, hoping that not watching him leave would pull my heart back into my chest.
Instead, it ran straight into the sight of my evil twin.
Fallon leaned against an archway, arms crossed, no doubt watching what had unfolded. I narrowed my eyes and deflected.
“Why are you still covering your face? Mine’s out in the open.”
Her bored hazel eyes flared for a split second at my snark before she slowly approached, tugging off the balaclava covering the lower half of her face.
“Old habits die hard,” she mumbled, drawing a deep breath of fresh air.
“Have you always had to conceal your identity here?” I asked, curiosity threading my voice.
“Everywhere.”
