It was the second one today, so the dustpan was already at her feet. The sunshine mocked her back as she brushed the shards into the trash before collapsing to sit on the ground.
Hours in here, and she’donlymanaged to disturb the serenity of the place and cost Kizros two expensive vials.
Aofe turned her palm up, fingerstrembling as the warmth of the greenhouse light sank into her skin. Sunlight wouldn’t fix her, but the heat was nice at least, staving off the worst of the pain.
It had relieved her to know Kizros was spending the morning running errands, so she could be as slow as she needed. He’d let her sleep in, left a tray of sweets on the counter, then instructed her to take the day off with a kiss to her forehead.
The only thing worse than leaving her alone with her thoughts was not allowing her to do any work.
So she’d pushed herself further than was wise, sketched a few plants in the compendium she was helping to make for the other humans, and then decided she’d stubbornly figure out those runes until her fingers bled.
Which had happened a dozen attempts ago, when she’d broken the first vial and sliced the tip of her thumb by accident. But she’d felt hopeful that today would be the day. It had to be. Somethinghadto go right.
Aofe sighed and let her arm go limp in her lap, closing her eyes. Maybe she should have just stayed in bed, read a book, or finally skimmed through those papers she’d still not read about the whole work program she was part of. It was probably important stuff to read, but that would bring up memories she would rather not deal with today. Possibly ever.
Something tickled the back of her hand, and despite the initial surprise, she had no energy to swat it away.
Kiz had warned her about the plants that were poisonous, but she’d not considered there might be some demon-realm bugs or?—
Snakes.
The thing slithered over her wrist, smooth and cool to the touch, and Aofe’s eyes flew open. Immediately, the movement stopped, as if caught in the act, but…
It wasn’t a snake.
Heartbeat still burning in her throat, she blinked down at the vine that had twisted down its bed and across the stone to her. It had to have been crawling her way since she’d knelt because it was thick enough she would have seen it earlier.
“Hello,” Aofe whispered, afraid she might spook it further beyond just her observing it. Kizros had talked about psychic plants before—the whole reason Tim seemed to have a personality, or, a mirror to Kizros’s demeanor. She hadn’t been introduced to all of them, but she imagined this one must have some of Kizros’s gentle, reassuring traits.
The vine relaxed, and while it didn’t continue moving across her hand, it did seem to… could plantsnuzzle?
“You’re very beautiful.” Aofe brushed a finger over the deep green leaves, flat and waxy against her skin. A blue flower had bloomed not far from her fingers, its petals thin and long, oddly like a fern, but in a tight spiral.
“I think I miss green plants the most. No offense,” she added to the dozens of other colors visible just from her seat. “I know you need sunlight the most, though. Kind of like me, so it’s a good thing we have thisplace, right?”
The necklace at her chest warmed, and Aofe reached up to hold it with her free hand. Kizros’s magic, always with her. He’d assured her it would serve the same purpose as the ball of light floating within the greenhouse, if for some reason she was away. Which he’d then frantically added that he wasn’t sending her away, but the charm’s magic could be for longer visits to other parts of Heck, a couple days with the other humans, or anything else that required getting out of the shop.
Well, Aofe didn’t exactlywantto leave, not if she didn’t absolutely need to, but then the seed of worry had already planted itself in her belly. Did he want her gone? Was she hovering too much? Had she encroached on too much of his space and he needed a break from her?
There was a squeeze at her palm, and Aofe gave the vine a resigned look. “I know I’m spiraling, but this is what happens. I don’t like… being alone.”
Then again, she was in a greenhouse full of plants that had some psychic connection to Kizros, so was she really alone? Or worse, could they actually communicate back with him?
She’d spent every night in his room, addicted to his warmth and sleepy morning kisses. Then the sleepy morning sex and sleepy morning cuddles. She was starting to wonder if there was a part of him or their time together shewasn’taddicted to, which felt… dangerous. Not because he was a demon, but because?—
“Aofe?”
Well, she’d worry about that later.
The vine retreated immediately, wiggling back into its bed and upsetting a few clumps of soil as it readjusted to its confines again. Aofe scrambled for her crutch as Kizros’s voice got closer, pushing to stand with only a few groans.
“In here,” she called, plopping back on her seat just in time for Kizros’s head to poke through the doorway.
“Good, found you,” he said with a wide grin, cheeks flushed. But he didn’t completely enter, just lingered awkwardly with half his body hidden by the blackout glass.
“Kiz?”
“Oh, right. I, uh… have a surprise for you. You might want to sit.”
