“Is she mean?”
My lids pop open. “No.”
“Let me get this straight.” As he starts to tick points off on his fingers, it’s obvious—and humbling—that my cousin’s way too grown up for his age. “She’s not ugly. She’s not mean. You’re not getting married, but I’m supposed to keep that a secret, and I’m not supposed to talk to her.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose at how horrific it all sounds coming from him. “That’s right.”
He cocks a brow at me. “I think you’re lying.”
I smirk. “I’m not lying. Her name’s Addison.”
“Will I meet her?”
“No,” I say sharply. Then I soften. “Ryals, it’s better if you stay away from her. For your own good. Look. She won’t be in our lives very long. It’s hard to understand now, but I’m doing you a favor.”
He gives me a hard look. “I bet sheisugly.”
“She’s not ugly.”
He cocks his head to one side, thinking. “Is that what the party’s for?”
“It’s an engagement party, yes. It’ll be fun.”
“Parties are never fun here,” he grumps.
I fold my arms and study him. “This one might be.”
“There are never any kids.” He returns to sketching. “It’s all adult fae.”
“There might be children at this party.”
That gets his attention. He straightens. “Why?”
“Because the witches and wizards from the village will be here.”
His eyes brighten. “They will?”
“Before you get too excited, I’m not promising anything. You’re welcome to come. But like I said”—I wag my finger, and we say in unison, “Don’t talk to her. Promise?” I ask, rising and stretching a kink from my back.
“I promise.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.”
Right before I reach the door, he says, “Feylin?”
“Yes?”
“Will you ever get married?”
My heart crumbles at the sadness in his tone. He wants a mother.Needsa mother. But I’m not the person who can give that to him. Once I was. But not anymore.
I slowly turn around to read his expression, but his head’s dipped, his eyes hidden. “No.”
“Is that the truth?”
“Was it the truth when you promised not to talk to Addison?”
He glances up. “Yes.”
