Rune looked confused when she emerged from her cottage to find me, but she definitely wasn’t upset.
“Tandor! Kizzi!” she called out as she pulled me into a hug. “What are you doing here? I thought you were headed back to Moonvale?”
She gripped me by the shoulders and examined my face. I wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but apparently, she found it. A sly smile spread across her cheeks. “How was Rockward?”
I fought to quell the warmth that seeped into my cheeks, but I couldn’t hide the way my ears twitched. Her smile grew.
“It was fine.” I coughed once. Twice. “It was nice.”
She laughed. “I’m sure it was. What are you doing back here?”
I extracted myself from her grip to turn back to Daisy. She was trotting in place, practically buzzing with excitement. I grabbed her reins and led her over to Rune.
“I thought you might be open to another family member?” I suggested hopefully.
My sister crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh?”
“She just loves it here so much… I can’t stand the thought of dragging her back to Moonvale.”
Rune considered this. “And will we get in trouble for stealing a horse?”
I shrugged. “Probably.”
She barked out a laugh. “Fine. You’re right, she’s got sea legs, she should get to live where she’s happy.” She took Daisy’s reins from me and stroked the horse’s broad cheek.
“You want to stay here with us, pretty girl?” she cooed.
Daisy let out a high-pitched trill, stomping her hooves.
“I thought so. Here, let me get this off you.” Rune pulled the reins from the horse and gave her a gentle nudge. “Go play. I’ll find a spot for you in a barn to sleep.”
Daisy glanced at me for a moment, as though seeking approval. I held my hand out in invitation. She wandered over to me for one more scratch on the neck before she neighed and plodded off toward the water’s edge. She passed Kizzi on the way, splashing the witch with sandy water.
Kizzi squealed, but she didn’t seem to mind. Her face was stretched in a gleaming smile.
Rune followed my gaze.
“Be good to her. She seems like a great match for you.”
I started to argue. “Oh no, we’re not, that’s not?—”
“You don’t need to explain. I have eyeballs.” She pulled me into another hug. “But I hope you bring her with you next time you visit.”
I squeezed her back. “I hope so too,” I mumbled under my breath.
CHAPTER 32
Kizzi
It was strange, waking up in my own bed.
It was comfortable, of course, with my collection of fluffy pillows and the gentle pulse of familiar magic. But it was cold. And lonely.
I missed waking up with Tandor next to me.
The sprites were a flurry of activity when I returned last night while the rest of the town was asleep, and they had clearly wreaked havoc on my shop while I was away.
I couldn’t even be mad—I had expected nothing but shenanigans from them.
