“Onlyorange? You do red?”
I give her a side-eye. “Don’t judge—you know my mother.”
“True.” She shifts her weight, her posture relaxing slightly.
I grab one of her clay jars, using its edge to grind up the leaf. It does a shit job, but it’s not like I have any better options. I pack it all into the pipe and swipe the candle from the center of the table.
The first hit melts everything away.
Fuck, I missed this.
I glance at Owena. Time to see if I can loosen her lips. “Want some?”
She accepts, taking a surprisingly long puff.
“Who knew a fancy princess liked to fade on the leaf?”
She raises an eyebrow. “You didn’t grow up with my father.”
Laughter falls out of me, and I fall over. I could have stayed sitting, but why bother? It’s more comfortable down here.
Ooh…I’ve been doing too much red lately. I’d forgotten what orange is like. More giggles, less floating away.
I run my fingers along the fluffy fur rug. “Why does everyone wear shoes here? These rugs feel amazing.” I tug at my boot. My toes need to feel this.
“Do mortals not have rugs?”
“I didn’t. We were too poor.”
Owena scoots closer to hand me the pipe, and I drop my shoe to take another inhale.
Too much. Coughs burst out of me.
“The queen was poor?” Owena lies on her back next to me, running her arms through the fluff. “I’d have liked to see that.”
“She always wore this stupid widow’s mantle. Maybe it was to hide her ears.” My brow scrunches as I get lost in the whorls on the ceiling. “I don’t actually remember her ears…”
“She has ears.”
“No, from before. I don’t think I ever saw them. How did I not think that was weird?”
“I don’t know. How did you miss your own?”
I squint, trying to recall my mother’s explanation, but it’s been a while and my brain’s all funky. “I don’t remember.”
“Then perhaps you’ve had too much of this.” Owena reaches for the pipe, but I pull it away. She falls on top of me, grasping at air.
Her lips land right in front of mine.
“Hello.” Heat rushes into me as I meet her eyes. They’re mesmerizing, like staring into an abyss.
Her cheeks flush, whether from our proximity or the long leaf, I don’t know. “Hello.”
I bring my hand to her face, tucking her soft hair behind her ear. “Ready for that kiss yet?”
The corners of her eyes crinkle with her smile. “Not at all. You still stink.” Her fingers press into my chest as she pushes herself off me, and I sit up, sniffing myself.
“How is that possible?”I don’t smell anything.
