I dismount without a word, tying Nyx to the post furthest from the fire pit.
The men leap to their feet, exchanging worried glances. I pay them no mind and head straight for the bridge.
“Where are you going, Everett?” one calls.
All it takes is a glower to shut him up.
I do not answer to them. I do not answer to anyone but our chieftain.
Seeing as he is not here right now, I am free to cross the bridge into Seelie territory. The journey takes me twenty minutes, but eventually the house where I last saw Kerris comes into view.
The flower still clutched in my fist looks so small and insignificant in light of the finery of her home, I almost turn around. But something in my foolish heart urges me to leave the gift on her stoop. I wish I could be here when she finds it just to see her face.
Will it make her smile? Will she know it is from me?
Such whimsical thoughts. How in the world would she know the gift came from me? She does not even know my name.
What was I thinking? This was a fool’s errand.
I am about to retrieve my gift when there is a clang from inside. Somewhere close by, a cat lets out a low mewl.
With my heart in my throat, I sprint all the way back to the canyon, feeling like the biggest fool who has ever lived.
13
“If you’ve had the misfortune of coming into contact with the skin of an Unseelie fae, immerse your hands in immortal water for a minimum of ten minutes to avoid warts.”
Unseelie Fae: A Scientific Study
“Ronan. I wasn’t expecting you this early.” Thank goodness I bathed last night, otherwise it would be at least another hour for my hair to finish drying.
Today, my hair falls in soft waves over the blue and white pinstripe dress Madame Ella altered. Gone are the heavy sleeves my mother once wore, replaced by lace ties that refuse to stay up properly. The ruffles at the bottom of the skirt have been cut clean off, and she sewed on a length of baby pink fabric that grazes the tops of my matching pink slippers. I never would’ve paired the two together myself, but they create a stunning garment.
The prince grins from the stoop, one shoulder casually propped against the doorframe. “I couldn’t wait until noon to see you.”
Do they teach princes to be charming or is this an inherent trait?
From behind his back, Ronan reveals two boxes. The white one I recognize from Madame Ella. It’s hard to believe she sent another dress already. She must be working round the clock.
The second is from the café where we went on our first date.
The pie inside appears to be the very same peach and blueberry masterpiece I enjoyed so much.
“You mentioned that you wanted to figure out how to make it yourself,” Ronan says with a deep flush along his starched white collar.
The fact that he remembered not only what I ordered but also my desire to recreate the recipe means more than any words of flattery ever could. Now I can really test the flavors to figure out the ingredients—assuming I don’t eat all of it first.
When I go to put the boxes on the hall table, I notice something shimmering in his pocket. Is that a flower? “Are you meeting another woman or is that for me as well?”
He glances down, then chuckles as he withdraws the bloom. “Oh, yes. Of course it’s for you.”
I spin the stem between my fingers, fascinated by the sunlight sparkling on the silver petals. “This is gorgeous.” Quite possibly the most beautiful flower I’ve ever seen. The scent reminds me of a lily but isn’t quite as strong.
“I’m glad you think so. I picked it especially for you, from the castle gardens.”
“What kind of flower is it?” The petals look as if they’ve been dipped in moonlight.
“I’m not sure. I can ask the gardener if you’d like.”
