In a somber yet stern voice, she says, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I think—” Esme is cut off when Clover slaps a hand over her mouth and offers an apologetic grimace on behalf of her friend.
“I found something I want to show you,” I say with a teasing smirk. Her eyebrows draw down, and I can see the playfulness warring with those stone walls she keeps around herself. “I mean it this time.”
Rowyn and Clementine walk back in, but I don’t turn to see what she’s made for us tonight. Their steps come to a slow stop a few feet away from the table when they realize the tension in the air.
Renata bites her lip and glances over my shoulder before meeting my eye again. “Is it important?”
“Yeah,” I breathe out. “It is.”
Wrapping one of her arms around herself, she nods. “Fine. We can go after dinner.”
Not letting the silence drag out, Rowyn steps forward and sets a large strawberry rhubarb pie in the middle of the table with a bowl of her homemade cinnamon and nutmeg whipped cream.
It’s a fitting dessert, I think to myself.
We all could use a little bit of love, prosperity, and protection going into the summer season.
The entire way, Renata dramatically huffs as if walking to the back of the property is the biggest inconvenience of her life.
When we finished dessert, she was the first to leave the table. I planned to go find her after helping Rowyn clean up, but I didn’t have to. She was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, Whisper and Hexate in her company.
I only asked him to stay one night with her, needing to be close to her in some way. I don’t think I’ll be getting my familiar back any time soon.
She didn’t say anything, only watched, as I grabbed my jacket from the coat closet and opened the front door for her.
She’s following me—and that’s the most I could ask for.
Right as we’re coming through the tree line, she asks in a breathless voice, “Where are we going?”
Turning to look at her, I take a few steps backward and shrug with my arms out. “Just here.”
She looks around, her eyes snagging on a nearby tree. The ground looks like it’s been dug up recently.
“Have you been here?” I ask.
It’s a trick question, but I don’t mean for it to be. We’ve both been here, just not awake.
“Yeah,” she admits. “Nestor brought me a few nights ago.”
“For what?”
She looks at me, defeat weighing on her shoulders. “He needed to show me something.”
Knowing she won’t elaborate, I ask, “Do you recognize it?”
“Uh,” she slowly says and looks around. “Only from last night. And a nightmare I had a couple months ago.”
I take a few steps and hold my hand out to her. “Come here.”
She glances over her shoulder, looking through the bare trees, before nodding and taking a tentative step forward.
“You’ll have to be closer than that,” I tease and tip my chin toward her.
With a dramatic huff, she holds up her long, floral skirt. “What is it, Archer?”
When she’s within reach, I grab her hand right as she stumbles in the uneven, overgrown grass. “Careful,” I lightly scold, earning me a scowl. Smiling in the face of her annoyance, I ask her, “Do you trust me?”
