“If he truly cares about you, nothing we do will scare him away.” My father lifted my mother’s hand to his mouth. The W on the back of her hand flared from her heightened heartbeats, and his palm glowed in return.
My cue to get out. “Goodnight, beloved parents.”
I whirled and soared over the palatial gardens and then over the small bridge leading to my floating bungalow, landing on myvolitordeck. With my mind, I slid open my window and walked past my billowy sheers, catching their silken hem and running it absent-mindedly through my fingers.
In the privacy of my bedroom, I sat on my bed and swiped my Infinity. Just for the pleasure of it, I scrolled through my entire closet, but of course that made me think of Remo. Especially when I landed on that dress he’d mentioned liking the day we were in Fake Neverra.
Smiling to myself, I fired off a quick message to his Infinity, swapped my tattered jumpsuit for a tiny red bikini, and then raced back across my deck and swan-dove into the ocean.
Epilogue
When I emerged from the depths of the Pink Sea after a long and delicious swim, I found someone sitting on my deck, one long leg dangling over the ledge, the other bent and supporting his forearm. Although we had no use for pens in our digital age, my visitor held one, clicking the tip in, then out. A memento from the Scourge? Hadn’t he left it on the beach with his machete?
“You’re sparkling, Trifecta,” Remo said, watching me levitate from the water and land beside him.
My copper scales had returned and so had my ability to breathe underwater. “Can’t believe you actually came.”
“You invited me.” His eyes rappelled down my body then climbed back up, gleaming like the pirate treasure I’d once found at the bottom of the Pink Sea—treasure I later learned had been planted by my parents to give me an adventure.
“I wasn’t sure you’d be brave enough to show up, what with having to fly over the palace to get to my little abode.”
“You must have me confused with some other faerie, because I’m the bravest one you’ll ever meet.”
“How about we revisit that tomorrow after your chat with my parents?”
“My . . . chat?”
“Oh yeah. I almost wish I could be there, but apparently they want to speak to you in private.” My grin widened when he scratched his jaw. “I wonder what they want to discuss?”
Using hiskalinito buoy himself up, he hopped to his feet and turned the pen towitaribbons. “Probably my pie baking skills.” He stroked the length of my neck, watching my scales, feeling them. I was guessing he’d never touched a Daneelie’s skin, which brought me immense satisfaction.
“If you ever make me a peach pie, Farrow, or an apple one, you’ll be standing by that Cauldron alone the next time it shows up.”
“You’ve used that threat before, and haven’t followed through with yourunfriendingmenace.” His eyes settled on mine, a smile—or was it my shimmering scales?—reflecting in them. “Besides, have you forgotten that you owe me agajoï, Trifecta?”
I gaped at him. “You wouldn’t dare use it to cement our essences.”
“Wouldn’t I? I am . . . what was it you called me again? . . . oh yes,cruel.”
My smile reappeared. “So very.”
His smile strengthened. “But I just thought of a much better use for it.”
“Really?”
“Amara Wood, how do you feel about me?”
How did I feel? Like a bottle of shaken faerie wine, pressurized and full of bubbles that were rising and popping against the walls of my chest, and then against the lining of my abdomen. And, oh crap . . . my stomach clenched.
I looked down at my belly button and then back into his face. “I can’t believe . . . you used . . . yourgajoïto . . .”
Concern made the smile warp off his face. “Sorry. I thought—I didn’t mean to—”
“Extract the sentiment through brute force?” Since the cramps didn’t lessen, I blurted out, “I love you, youbagwa.” The violent pain ceased.
His hands wound around my waist, features still contorted in guilt. “That played out much more romantically in my mind.”
Even though I was no longer in pain, I breathed in and out slowly. “Mm-hmm.”
