I was here with a man who seemed to cherish me, and I felt safe, truly safe being vulnerable for one of the very few times in my life. My eyes slowly drifted shut, and sleep claimed me moments later.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Iawoke covered in flowers and vines. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I frowned as an unfamiliar ceiling loomed above me. It took me a minute to remember where I was.
“Rowan?” I croaked.
My cheeks turned crimson as I remembered what happened. The Lord poked his head out from around the corner and sent a critical eye from my face all the way down to my toes.
“Hi,” I said. My voice was hoarse from overuse.
His eyes crinkled at the edges. “Hey. I made some lunch if you’re hungry.”
I sat up and brushed away the flowers, frowning at them. I hoped this wasn’t a new thing to happen every time I went to sleep. The vines fell away as I swung my legs over the side of the couch. With a whispered command, the greenery disappeared.
My stomach growled, making Rowan laugh. “Don’t get up. I’ll bring you a bowl.”
I tugged a blanket across my lap and waited, inhaling the scent of something delicious. Rowan came in holding a tray with two bowls of something steaming, fresh-cut bread and a saucer of golden butter. Moira followed him in holding a pot of coffee and several mugs. Ash came behind her holding a pitcherof something cold, and Tess walked behind him holding a few glasses.
I blinked at the sight of them, and I felt my face crumple once again. But this time, I wasn’t crippled by heartbreak. All I felt was happiness they’d chosen to follow me. I could do many things, but living without them wasn’t a life I wanted to live.
Moira sat beside me, so close our thighs touched, and poured me a mug of coffee. I curled my hands around the mug and gave her a wobbly smile. Moira responded by laying her head on my shoulder for a moment.
“I love you, Evie.”
“Love you back.”
Ash and Tess settled into chairs next to each other. Rowan set the tray down and sat on my other side.
“Are you guys hungry?” I asked, noting there were only two bowls.
Everyone shook their heads. “Declan fed us before we came over,” Ash said.
“The apartments are wonderful,” Tess added, a sparkle in her pale eyes. “These lands are perfect for a banshee to haunt.”
Rowan blinked at that one.
“I can sense a few banshees somewhere within the boundaries. Maybe I’ll try to find them later.”
Rowan opened his mouth and shut it before saying anything. His nonplussed expression made me chuckle. “You get used to it,” I said quietly. “Tess is one in a million.”
“I have banshees?” Rowan asked. His expression is bemused.
Tess nodded enthusiastically. “At least two. You’re lucky,” she added. “If you haven’t heard their screams, your people all have healthy lifespans ahead of them.” Tess smiled. “So far.”
With that ominous note, Rowan shook his head and let out a little laugh. “Alright. We’ll leave them be and hope not to hear any screaming.”
Tess blessed Rowan with a beaming smile. Ash chuckled under his breath and poured himself a glass of tea.
“Here,” Rowan said, passing me a bowl sitting on a saucer. “I don’t often cook because of my schedule, but I make a mean potato soup. The bread is courtesy of our local pastry chef.”
“Thank you.” Our eyes met, and I saw no judgment or disgust. Only a warm concern and something more.
He handed me a spoon. “Eat up. There’s plenty more in the kitchen.”
Soon enough, I’d focused on my soup, and everyone else was chatting about their plans to settle into their new places. As I sat there, seeing how animated my friends were and how easily they were adapting to this massive change, something in my heart eased, and for the first time, I relaxed.
