“Why?”I asked, so unused to people openly volunteering information.
“Selfish reasons mostly. I do not want you to leave. If there is a chance I can help this feel like home to you, then I must take it.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. How many people would I be leaving behind when I returned to my world? And were they all really less important than Jenn? It was an impossible question, and yet I still knew the answer. My home would always be wherever my sister was.
“I am sorry if my answer caused you pain.”
“No,”I said quickly, opening my eyes to look at her.“I’m just not used to having anybody besides my sister actually want me to stick around. That’s all.”
She gave me a sad smile.“Do people in your world not see how amazing you are?”
I glanced away as a highlight reel of abuse flashed through my head. The beatings from foster parents who would inevitably send me back. The teasing from my classmates every time Iskipped lunch because I had nothing to eat and no money to buy anything. The bullying from the rich girls with private music tutors always saying that I was a waste of a perfectly good violin.
“No, not exactly,”I thought weakly, though I didn’t know if it even made it from my mind to hers. If it did, she mercifully didn’t press the issue.
“What questions can I answer for you, Rain?”
I looked over at her and relaxed a little when I saw no pity on her face.“Truthfully, I asked about your age in hopes you were around when my mother was here, but she would have died before you were born.”
“Yes, I am afraid that is correct. You would have better luck finding someone who knew her down in Civi Obsura. While humans are technically not allowed to live within any of the kingdom’s cities, I know there are many pockets of them that reside there. It is where King Verren found her after all.”
“Thanks. I doubt he’ll let me take a sightseeing trip anytime soon, but maybe I can sneak off after the Council is done.”
Jo gave me a strange appraising look, but it shifted into a neutral expression as Dey entered the Sylvarium.
“Princess,” he said, striding across the room toward us. “What are you doing on the floor?”
Standing up, I dusted off my leggings. “What’s wrong with the floor?”
You would think I had asked what’s wrong with eating dirt based off the look he gave me in response.
I shook my head. “Never mind. I take it the dressmaker is here?”
“Yes, they are waiting in your chambers. Shall we head up there?”
“Might as well get this over with.” I turned to Jo.“Same time tomorrow?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
I gave her one last smile and turned to follow Dey from the Sylvarium.
His eyes flicked up to my hair. “Are you aware that you have two crescia on your head?” he asked.
“Oh, right.” I reached up to nudge them, surprised they hadn’t flown away on their own like every other time I left the room. Jenni let out a string of sharp chitters, and I got the feeling she wanted to stay. “Can they come with me?”
Dey raised an eyebrow. “I am afraid not. One of them may have chosen you as their future bonded, but they must stay here where it is safe for now.”
“Sorry, ladies,” I said, despite having no idea if crescia even had genders. “You heard him. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jenni gave one last irritated chitter, then she and Opal flew away.
We arrived at my room to find a tall slender female with short graying hair and a stern face that reminded me of the nuns back in the orphanage. I was just glad her dress was a vibrant emerald instead of black, or I would have suffered some serious flashbacks.
She addressed Dey as we walked inside, and whatever she said was definitely not a pleasant greeting. He spoke to her briefly, then she huffed and began sorting through her box of supplies.
“She is merely annoyed that we are late is all,” Dey explained, as he plopped onto my bed and leaned back against the headboard. I started to tell him to get the hell off my bed, but the seamstress locked her rough hands on mine and yanked me into the center of the room.
I squirmed under her assessment. I never had a female make me feel like a piece of meat before, but I always thought I’d feel abit more flattered if it ever happened. Judging by her scowl, she definitely didn’t like what she was seeing. And here I thought I was starting to look better.
