Page 22 of A Legacy of the Light

I shrug, trying to sidestep the conversation. I hate the fact that he’s picked up on that. I was hoping it wouldn’t be that obvious.

“Since you’ll be here as my guest, why don’t we get to know each other? It might convince you that I’m not going to murder you.”

We head down the corridor with the open archways back toward the central chamber.

“Okay, but I’m warning you now, I’m not that exciting. I don’t have many friends or family left and all I do is read.” Best he knows that now before he fools himself into thinking I’ve got many layers. There’s no Shrek-like onion situation here.

“I don’t know, this morning hasn’t been so bad with you. Even if you have tested how much of my history lessons I can remember.”

“Forgivable, since you’re old as shit,” I mutter.

He chuckles and bumps my shoulder. “Don’t be rude. I’m letting you stay here and I’m feeding you, freeloader. That could change if you’re not nice to me.”

I roll my eyes as he leads us down a new corridor. I’m definitely going to get lost trying to find my way around this place, but I guess I’ve got some time to figure that out.

“Why don’t you have many family and friends left? Did something happen?” he asks me quietly.

I sigh as I consider what to say. When I meet new people, I tend not to tell them about what happened. Their pity stares make my skin itch and they offer me nice words or their apologies as if it could make anything better. I know they mean well but it just pisses me off half the time.

Tavish senses my hesitation. “I didn’t mean to pry. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“You’ll find out eventually, I suppose.” I try to figure out how to tell him, and settle for the truth.

“Eighteen months ago, my mother and grandmother were involved in a car accident. My mother’s body was so wrecked we could hardly tell it was her, and Granny’s body was never found. They only knew she was there because it was her car that had gone off the bridge and Mom was in the passenger seat. After a while, some of my friends stopped talking to me and inviting me to places because I’ve been so miserable. It’s like they just expected me to get over it and move on with my life, but I can’t. So now all I have is my best friend and my Grandpa.”

I look down at the floor and try to stop the tears from falling. Talking about it doesn’t get easier the more time passes.

Tavish’s hand softly touches my shoulder. I look up at him and his eyes are gentle. Not with pity, but with understanding.

“My mother died, too. Just before the Dorche attacked. I don’t really remember her now, but I know what it’s like to miss someone and wish they were still here. I know that the pain never goes away, you just learn to live with it.” He doesn’t ask for any more than what I’ve revealed. He just looks at me as if to say, I see you.

It’s not often people accept my grief. It softens me toward him and I can’t help the tear that streaks down my cheek.

Tavish lifts his hand from my shoulder and moves toward my face as though he’s going to wipe the tear from my cheek. I quickly scrub it away before he gets the chance.

“You looked like you were having fun when I saw you that night in the bar?” he asks.

“Yes. My friend Rachel had dragged me out to celebrate my birthday. After a bottle of Prosecco at home I wasn’t feeling as miserable as normal.”

“When was your birthday? How old did you turn?” he asks.

“I turned twenty-five yesterday.”

“Wow, you’re almost as old as me,” he teases. I level him with a glare before he continues, “I’m sure the guy you were kissing at the bar helped your mood.” He winks at me, snapping me out of the I’m-about-to-cry-all-over-you mood and into a mind-your-own-fucking-business mood.

Before I can reply, he places a palm at the bottom of my back and gestures ahead of him. “Come on. There’s one more place I’d like to show you. I think you’ll like this best.”

“Just to clarify, Your Highness, I can kiss whoever I want,” I state curtly, giving him a mocking bow before I walk down the hall in the direction he indicated.

“I’m not judging, Elsie. I’m all for that kind of freedom.”

The way he stresses the last word makes me shiver. And it has nothing to do with the temperature of the room.

Nope, not happening. I’m determined to be nothing more than his house guest, or friend, if we get to that. I will not be thinking of him in that way. I can objectively recognize that this man is beyond attractive but I will do nothing with that information. This situation is messed up enough without me lusting after a Seelie prince who is so far out of my league it’s an entirely different game.

“Your father’s advisor is . . . interesting.”

Tavish rolls his eyes as we turn into another hallway. “Interesting isn’t the word I’d use to describe Hume, but he’s loyal to my father so he keeps him around.”