Page 78 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

“Trick is a strong word. I wanted to surprise you.” His voice softened at that last part, and it softened me as well.

Nevan thwacked Cillian over the back of his head, and Wolfe grabbed both brothers by the collars of their shirts and pulled them apart. They all laughed, and Jerome stared at his sons with such love and tenderness, just watching them as they stood together. I’d never known family like this, love like this. Even with the Fair Folk, who I’d considered my family, I’d rarely had such intimate moments.

“Excuse me,” I said as tears began to well. I bolted down the small hallway, lined with doors on each side and burst through one of the doors, dashing the tears away that had begun to fall.

“We can leave,” Lor said behind me, closing the door with a gentle click.

Of course he’d followed me.

I turned to face him. “No, it’s okay.”

His face was so severe now, all the mirth and mischievous gone. He reached out and thumbed away a tear. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“You didn’t.” I crossed my arms. “Well you did, but—” I sighed. “It’s just I’ve never had a family. Not like this. No mother or father or brothers to tease.”

I’d never thought I wanted something like that. Some of the Fair Folk had mothers, fathers, siblings, and it rarely turned out well. Someone would die or get hurt or be separated and sold into different households. It all looked so very painful.

“You do have a family, Aoife,” Lor said, taking a cautious step forward. “This is your family too. And you’re welcome anytime.”

The words filled my heart in a way I didn’t expect. Maybe having a family wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe it was just another type of community I could have.

“How did you do it?” I asked. “How did you leave this?”

He winced, and I wondered if I’d said the wrong thing. “It wasn’t easy. I missed my family every single day, but I believed in what I was doing, being a rebel within the brotherhood. I believed I was serving this greater good, and I had to sacrifice to do it. My family was that sacrifice.” He let out a harsh laugh. “In the end, I’m not sure any of it was worth it. I didn’t accomplish my ultimate goal.”

“You can’t actually believe that,” I said.

He sighed heavily, and I wondered what was going through his mind. “Anything less than perfection is failure.”

“That’s not you speaking. It’s certainly not something I’d hear from this family of yours. I don’t know them well, but I cannot believe any of them would ever be so harsh, so unforgiving. That voice is someone else’s.”

Surprise flashed across his face. “My former mentor. That’s something he always said.”

Leena had been right. Arthon had poisoned Lor’s mind with his rhetoric. “You should’ve heard how Leena spoke of you, with such respect and reverence.” And love, but I wasn’t going to mention that part. “The only reason the rebels are who they are today is because of you, because of what you started. The same way Fairwitch Isle is better because you’re the king.”

He swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Do you mean that?”

I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded. “I do. You’re a natural leader, Lor. You’re good and kind and selfless, and that’s exactly the kind of king these people need.”

He stepped forward again, close enough that I could reach out and pull him to me. I was so tempted, but I was also feeling uncharacteristically shy. I had no idea what that kiss meant yesterday. If it was just Lor trying to prove something . . . or something deeper. That was the part that scared me.

Lor’s eyes dipped to my lips. “Aoife, about yesterday . . .”

“What’s this?” I asked before he could finish. I grabbed a random piece of parchment off the nearby desk and shoved it toward Lor, heart beating wildly.

Half of me desperately wanted to know what he had been about to say, and the other half wasn’t sure I could handle it. Handle this. Whatever was happening between us.

Lor blinked, and I could’ve swore disappointment flashed in his eyes. “That’s one of my paintings.”

I glanced down at the parchment, a painting of the gargoyles. I studied it, amazed by how real it looked. It felt like I was standing there, in front of the castle, Barty and Tal right there.

“This is so life like,” I said. “You have a real talent with this.”

“Maybe once I did, but I haven’t painted or sketched in so long.”

A knock sounded on the door, and Ceri poked her head in. “Lor, Cillian is requesting your help. He can’t read your handwriting on one of the recipes.”

“I should go help before this entire plan falls apart.” Lor nodded his head toward the door. “Stay in here as long as you need.”