“Waiting for what?”
A boy from her school glances at her as we pass and starts to lift his hand in greeting. I shift closer, my hand settling on the small of her back. She doesn’t notice him, and the boy looks away.
“The right person.”
She considers this, her head tilted to the side. “That’s actually kind of romantic.”
A smile warms my lips. “It is?”
“Mm-hmm. In a tragic, lonely sort of way.” She pats my arm consolingly. “Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s out there somewhere. Your perfect mystery woman who meets your impossible standards.”
“I’m sure she is,” I murmur, my eyes tracing the curve of her cheek.
The Montoni mansion rises in the distance, all stone and iron and too many windows. Even from two blocks away, I can feel its presence like a weight on my chest.
Mina’s chatter slows as we approach. She’s sensitive to my moods, even when she doesn’t comment on them. She knows this house makes me quiet.
“Oh!” She brightens suddenly, as though trying to distract me. “I forgot to tell you. We startedA Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“Shakespeare.”
“Shakespeare,” she confirms, and clasps her hands together, practically skipping. “It’s so good, Cristiano. There’re fairies and magic and people falling in love with the wrong people because of enchanted flowers. And there’s this character, Puck. He’s the best.”
“Tell me about him.”
I don’t care about Shakespeare. I don’t care about fairies or enchanted flowers. But I care about the way her face lights up when she talks about the things she loves.
“Puck is Oberon’s servant,” she explains, gesturing expansively. “Oberon is the king of the fairies, very powerful, very commanding. And Puck does all his bidding. He flies around causing mischief and casting spells.” She drops into a theatrical bow. “I am that merry wanderer of the night.”
“You’ve memorized it already?”
“Just a few lines.” She straightens, grinning. “Puck says to Oberon,I’ll put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes.Can you imagine? Flying around the whole world just because someone asked you to?”
“Of course.”
“You know what,” Mina says thoughtfully. “I think you’re Oberon. Powerful and commanding and everyone does what you say. And I’m Puck.” She bows again, sweeping an imaginary hat from her head. “Your loyal servant, at your beck and call.”
Something warm blooms in my chest.
“How now, spirit,” I say, dredging up the line from last year’s studies. “Whither wander you?”
Her face lights up. “You know it!”
“I studied it last year.”
“Of course you did.” She falls back into step beside me, fairy lights dancing in her eyes. “So if you’re Oberon and I’m Puck, that means I have to do whatever you say. Your wish is my command.”
The warmth spreads, dangerous and sweet. “That’s a lot of power to give someone.”
“It’s just how it is with Oberon and Puck.”
She starts to skip ahead again, but I clasp her arm and pull her close. “You’ve got it backward, Mina. I’m not Oberon. You are, and I’m your loyal servant. So command me.”
Surprise flickers across her face. For a moment, she looks at me like she’s seeing me clearly for the first time. All the yearning and love and dark desire that’s swirling inside me.
Then she laughs. “Look at you. You’re definitely Oberon.”
I release her arm. My grip was too strong and I didn’t realize, but how intoxicating it feels to hold on to her slender arm in my tight fist. I wish I could show her how strong I am, and how I’m worthy to worship at her feet and give her everything she’s ever wanted. I could make her so happy. I want to be the one she runs to, the one she relies on, the one she can’t live without.
