She shakes her head, voice lowering. “I was just imagining her doing that as a raccoon.”
“Hey.” Marigold fluffs her full cheeks. “This form is quite good in the water, I’ll have you know.”
The four of us chuckle a bit more. “You go, Wrenley,” I say.
She chews on her lip. “Never have I ever made a fae bargain.”
Both Astrid and Marigold shake their heads. I sigh, lowering one of my own fingers, thinking of the two bargains I’ve made: the one with Caspian on the battlefield and the one with Kel to find his mate.That icy bastard. He knew the whole time it was me.“Got me, Wrenley.”
She combs a hand through her hair, looking away. “Bargains are binding. I can’t think of a worse fate than being bound to someone.”
Astrid’s ears go straight up. “I’ve got one that’s going to get Rosalina.”
“You guys can’t gang up on me!” I laugh.
“Never have I ever,” Astrid says, “been in love.”
“Ahh, my dear Eldor.” Marigold sighs dreamily, lowering a finger. “It’s the facial hair, I tell you.”
“You got me, Astrid.” I smile, thinking of my mates. But … it isn’t only my mates that my heart calls out for.
“Well, I’ve never—” Wrenley starts confidently, but then it’s like the rest of her words won’t come out. The truth wine. I’d almost forgotten we’d taken it. She shakes her head, her expression going from confused to angry. “No. I’m not in …”
Astrid and Marigold exchange a wary look before Astrid ventures, “Maybe your mate bond makes you fall in love.”
“It doesn’t do that,” she snaps.
“Well, I fell in love with his abs at first sight,” Marigold hiccups, then laughs. “And that’s the darn truth.”
“Lucky Dayton,” I breathe out, then stand quickly, heading for the privy. “Excuse me for a second.”
The moment the washroom door closes, my tears fall. Wrenley really does love Dayton. She loves him. She couldn’t fake that, not with the truth wine. Was that Caspian’s purpose, to show me how much Wrenley loves Day? Is he trying to help me get over this in his own twisted way?
I slide down the bathroom door, putting my head on my knees, painting my nightdress with my tears. “But I love you, Dayton,” I whisper out loud. “I love your smile, how you make me laugh. I love the feeling when you kiss me. I love how you light me up in the darkest moments. I don’t want Wrenley to be your mate. I wish it were me, Day. I wish it were me.”
I shake my head, hugging my legs. I hate myself for thinking such an ugly thought, for being able to say it out loud with the truth wine. If I really loved him, I’d want him to be happy with her. To break his curse, to regain his magic and save his realm.
“I’ll try to make it easy for you, Day,” I whisper to myself. “I’ll try to love her because I can’t love you anymore.”
When I finally dry my tears and leave the bathroom, I see Astrid and Marigold are in a fit of giggles, still engrossed in the game. Wrenley is surprisingly still here, swirling her finger in the top of her wine like she’s brewing a potion.
She looks so uncomfortable, it reminds me of myself, sitting in the cafeteria at high school, surrounded by everyone who had their own inside jokes.
I sigh, walk over to the spread of food, and start dishing up bowls. “Hey, Wrenley, will you come here for a second?”
She stiffly stands then walks over to me.
“Try this,” I say and hand her a bowl.
“What is it?” she asks.
“Elderberry swirl ice cream. Trust me, it’s delicious.”
Wrenley raises a curious brow and takes a bite. “Interesting.”
I place a hand on my hip. “What’s your favorite flavor?”
She tilts her head. “I guess it would have to be elderberry swirl.”
