Page 36 of Ruling the Green

“I know you can speak,” Nira said as she hung up the dress. I stiffened. “You couldn’t have cried out in pain like that if you were still mute. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. I’m never going to be the one to bring men,” she shot the closed door a disdainful look, “into your personal business. But it would be helpful if you told me something about your lake. I’d really like to stick it in Vishen’s face that I was the one to find it. Anything would help.”

I glanced at the door, then back at Nira.

“Willows,” I whispered.

“I mean, don’t most lakes have willows?”

I wouldn’t know.

“Water lilies?”

“That might help. What color?”

“Pink with purple centers.”

“That seems unique enough,” Nira said. “Anything else?”

“There are carvings on some of the trees.”

“Hearts and initials?”

“Yes. But… but also…”

“Also what?”

“Breasts.”

“Someone carved tits in a tree?” Nira asked, lips twitching. “Men. Okay. That should be more than enough. I’ll get you more of your water. Then once I can confirm it’s the right one, I will get enough to fill this tub.”

“Thank you.”

Looking uncomfortable with my gratitude, Nira brushed right past it. “Keep an eye out today. If you see anyone who seems to be giving you the eye or trying to get close to you, let me know when I get back. I will investigate.”

“I will.”

“Do you need help with the dress?” she asked, giving it a confused look.

“What kind of help?”

“I heard fancy women have their maids dress them.”

“I can manage the task on my own.”

With that, Nira made her way out and I stripped out of Jet’s shirt, feeling a surprising swell of regret. But I shook that off, slipped into the dress, and glanced at myself in the looking glass.

Jet’s words came drifting back to me.

She’s too fucking beautiful for a bog fae.

I’d never had reason to consider myself before. I saw myself as an extension of my lake. And nothing in the world was more beautiful than my lake, so I guess I’d always had an innate security in my appearance.

I tried to see myself through Jet’s eyes, to try to figure out what about me he found so pleasing.

“Serin?” Jet called, knocking. When I didn’t answer, he pushed open the door and moved in.

Spotting me, something flashed across his face, gone too quickly to name, but my body seemed to recognize it, making my breath go quick and shallow while my heartbeat fluttered faster.

“Ready to go?” he asked.