Not only has Ronan Reve proven himself deceitful and untrustworthy, he also wants me to be someone I’m not.
“Allow me to make this easy for you then: I do not wish to marry you, Prince Ronan. Now, if you would kindly point me toward the exit, I would like to go home.”
I came to Rosehill in search of a mate, and it would seem all I’ve found is disappointment.
19
“Liars lie.”
Kerris Dawn, An Observation
Monday morning, I find a single flower on top of the latest box from Madame Ella waiting on the stoop. I pick up the box and stomp on the flower, leaving it there as a reminder that no good deed goes unpunished.
The dress doesn’t fit, and when a note arrives from Trevor cancelling our date, I give up and go straight back to bed.
20
Everett
“Only foolish fae fall in love.”
Surviving the Unseelie Lands, Author Unknown
Keeping my head down, I make the trek across camp to where Gryffin’s wagon sits closest to the forest’s edge. Maddox and I have offered to make room for his between ours, but he has always refused, saying he does not like other people knowing his business. Which is something I can appreciate now that everyone in the whole camp knows that I have yet to give Leah an answer.
Whispers follow me everywhere, and it is annoying as hell. I can only imagine how Gryffin must feel.
I find my oldest friend on his steps, a stick in one hand and a chisel in the other, carefully chipping away at the graying bark.
“Who is that for?” I ask, gesturing toward the stick.
“Why does it matter?” he grumbles.
I suppose it does not matter at all. “Just wondering if you have a secret lover none of us know about.”
He digs his chisel deeper, bits of gray coming off in flakes. “Funny. Is that why you came by? To tell jokes?”
If only. “I came because I need a favor.” From the way Gryffin glowers, I have a sinking feeling this is going to be more difficult than anticipated. “I need you to convince Finn to give you his shift tonight.”
He aims the chisel toward me, as if he is about to carve my skin from my bones. “You can fuck right off with that. I was on shift for three nights last week. The only way I am leaving camp tonight is if you hold a knife to my chest.” Back to work he goes. Scrape, scrape, scraping the stick, revealing ivory flesh marked with deep grooves.
“I do not mean for you to work it. I will do it.”
His chisel stills. “Let me get this straight: You want to work Finn’s shift but will not ask him yourself. Why not?”
Because I do not want Finn knowing I am interested and asking the same fucking question. It is one thing for Maddox and Gryff to know my secrets, and another thing entirely for Finn to find out. As grumpy as Gryffin may be, he is a loyal friend and knows when to keep quiet. If Finn learned the truth, the entire village would catch wind by daybreak. And I do not want Leah—or her father—to find out.
Our chieftain might be fond enough of me to approve of his daughter’s proposal, but our relationship will not matter at all if he learns I am secretly meeting with a Seelie fae. Not that I think Kerris will show tonight. But there is no shame in hoping, is there?
“This has to do withherdoes it not?” Gryffin asks.
There is no point denying it. He will only harp on until he gets the truth. “It might.”
His eyes narrow. “What are your intentions?”
If only I knew.
“Do you plan on seducing her?”
