“She, um, figured it out,” he said.
No. No. No.
If Autumn knew, she’d tell Isobel, who’d tell Sean, and then it was only a matter of time before everyone found out.
She’d be the pixie with Morgan’s magic.
They’d want her gone.
Her heart thudded in her temples. She was an idiot for thinking there might be a chance they wouldn’t find out. TheI told you solecture Maddy would give her later…
David winced. “Fuck. How do you handle that kind of emotion? Your anxiety is like thorns are growing in my nerves.”
Anna let out a lengthy breath. “I’m used to it, I guess,” she said faintly.
“You should shield yourself better,” he said.
“I don’t know how.”
David flicked his attention up again. “I could teach you.” The faintest hint of affection skimmed through his ice before it disappeared.
She blinked, stunned. “You’d do that?”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah. And…I didn’t tell Autumn, just so you know. She heard us…that day.”
Anna’s jaw clenched. “Ah.”
“It will be okay,” he said, voice soft in a way that surprised her more than his offer to help. Then a smirk ghosted across that dangerous mouth, and they were back on even ground. “Besides, you sort of invited this, didn’t you? Hanging with me?”
She leaned closer to whisper, “You’re the only other child of Morgan I’ve met. I’ve been alone with this forso long.”
His gaze grew shrewd. “So have I. But…they said my bloodline was the only one left to have it.”
She shrugged.
“Where did you get it?”
“I’ve searchedyearsfor that answer, and I still don’t know.”
He set his elbows on the table. “Who are your parents?”
“My dad raised me. He was just…normal. As much as a crofter on the Isle of Skye can be. Never told me about any of this.”
One gold brow lifted. “And your mother?”
“Never met her.”
He gazed, unblinking, deep in thought. A long moment passed before he said, “My mother might be able to help you.”
“Your mother is terrifying,” she hissed.
“I would argue she’s more terrible than terrifying.”
Anna fingered the edge of her book, debating. “You…you’d help me with this?”
“I would,” he said, sincerity threading through his tone even though his emotions remained their customary ice wall.
“It’s been ruling my life since I was a kid. Controlling it seems…impossible.”
