I sit in my usual chair, thinking through how best to tell her about my dream with the Mother without sounding absolutely crazy.
“I think…I think the Mother visited me in my dreams the other night. But also, I think it wasn’t a dream.”
Cally stares at me for one, two, three seconds. “Huh?”
“I was sleeping, and I had this weird dream about this woman stepping out of moss in my bedroom. Then she handed me a book in the dream. When I woke up, the book was in my bedroom, like it was real.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Okay…But what makes you think it was the Mother?”
I recount the dream. By the time I finish, Cally’s eyes are wide. “Why?” she asks in disbelief. “No offense, you’re great, but why give you that book?”
I shake my head. “The only thing I can come up with is that she wants me to know Wrena’s story. And it gets weirder. Today, I spoke to our librarian, and she told me that thereisa prophecy about Wrena’s line, but it’s not her daughter that will ascend to the throne. It’s her granddaughter.”
“So? How does that help anything?” Cally asks.
I place my head in my hands and let loose a loud groan. “I don’t know.” I lift my head back up. “But it’s weird, right?”
“Bit of an understatement, but yeah,” she mutters.
Two short knocks rap on the office door.
“Damnit,” Cally mutters as she stands. “We’ve been back here forever.”
I grimace. “Sorry, Cal.”
She waves me off with a hand. “No, I’m glad you told me.” She unlatches the door and swings it open, freezing as she sees the prince before her.
Asmo stands there, a black book in his head. “I thought you should know you have several people waiting to purchase books from your fine establishment.”
“Th-thank you,” Cally says. She steps past him, carefully avoiding touching him. When she’s in the hall, she shoots me a glare around Asmo’s tall frame.
I mouth an apology and she darts away, shooting one last look at Asmo.
“Sorry for taking so long,” I say to Asmo. “We can head out.”
He gestures to the book. “I need to pay for this first.”
I wave the offer away. “Please, just keep it. We have so many books. You’re doing us a favor taking one so we can make room for more.”
“As you wish, princess,” he whispers, eyes glued to me. “Thank you for letting me come with you today.”
The small office suddenly feels claustrophobic. I take a step back, bumping against the desk. My chest feels too tight. The light green around his iris seems to glimmer as he stares at me.
“Yeah, thanks for coming,” I say awkwardly, leaning back on the desk.
He chuckles, one corner of his mouth pulling up in a half-grin. “Come on. I practically forced you to bring me.”
I shrug. “Maybe, but I’m glad you came. I’m proud of this,” I say, waving around the room. “It’s nice to show someone new.”
He takes a step closer, book still in one hand. He runs his free hand through his hair, and I’m thankful for the desk because my knees go a little weak at the motion. I hate myself for it. I hate myself for the way my body is reacting right now as I remember the way his words affected me the other night.
He drops his gaze and stares at the book in his hands. “I’m sorry for what I said the other night.” His words are soft, but they hit me hard. He doesn’t give me the chance to respond. Instead, he turns and exits the office.
I wait for my breathing to return to normal, then follow him out. Cally stands at the front desk, recording records of every purchase and providing coins in exchange, telling everyone, “Thank you. Come again,” before they exit the store.
I give her a wave before Asmo and I follow a sandy-blonde-haired female out the front door. We walk back in silence before he offers me his hand and funnels us back to the grounds.
“So, how did you like Pinebend?” I ask him as we walk up the path toward the castle.
