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Lark ran through her mental list and turned around, walking straight into the impenetrable wall that was Seren.
“Ah, yes?”
Seren’s smile was gentle, and Lark felt her stomach flip pleasantly.
“I believe in you. You’ve been on top of this event for weeks now. Everything will be amazing. You got every detail memorized. You and Sam and the entire team will raise so much money!”
“What if people—”
Seren laid a tender finger on her still-moving lips.
“People will show up in droves, and you have that covered with extra portions of nearly everything. Victoria has not woven a spell, but she has made so much food, and I’ll have you know that Lucio is staying at the Tavern, despite it being closed tonight, for any emergency cooking. And Deryn baked double her usual numbers.”
Deryn nodded and pointed toward the stacked boxes set for transport before stepping up and enveloping both Lark and Seren in a bear hug.
“And the auction you’re running will be great. Money shall be raised. It will be awesome, even if I am totally mad at the two of you for not keeping it in your pants for two more days!”
Seren pushed Deryn off and gave Lark a sweet kiss on the cheek before grabbing one of the bakery boxes and leading the way, Deryn bringing up the rear.
Lark exhaled and peeked at the nearest oven, watching the focaccia bake.
“You did keep it, though.”
Lark nearly jumped out of her skin as she whirled on the second Crowhart sister, munching on the ridiculously big carrot much more quietly.
“Rhiannon!”
“I’m just saying, you and Seren have not actually… You know.” Rhiannon sidestepped the words tactfully, for which Lark was grateful. But also a bit irked. It must’ve shown on her face because Rhiannon smiled and raised the carrot in surrender.
“Which is none of my business. And unlike Ceridwen and Victoria, I am not your confidante. And I do not possess Deryn’s tomfoolery to set you at ease. But I wanted to talk to you, actually. About this part.”
Lark felt her heart hammer in her throat. Why did Rhiannon—worldly, cosmopolitan, gorgeous Rhiannon, who knew everyone and whom everyone knew—want to talk to her?
“Seren will not hurt you.” Rhiannon’s words were quiet, almost inaudible, and Lark had to strain to hear them. “I don’t know what you’ve been through. And I can’t say I’d understand it, even if I knew, Lark. But I’ve been beaten down. I’ve been in a place where I was so alone, the world felt empty, and nothing would ever make me trust another human being. I may have masked it all pretty well under my usual suave personality and overflowing charm.” Rhiannon chuckled, and Lark found herself biting her lip to not smile back. “My marriage was emotionally abusive in ways that I am just now coming to realize. And while I put on a very brave face for everyone around me for years, it affected me in no uncertain terms, terms I still can’t fully articulate.”
Rhiannon took a careful step forward but did not touch Lark.
“Prudence had the patience. And yes, the prudence, pun very much intended. And I feel that if you have any lingering doubts, you should know that Seren has just as much of both.”
“I… Ugh… Rhiannon, I don’t know what to say. Seren’s been nothing but gentle with me.”
Rhiannon smiled.
“She is Water, Lark. None of us—with the exception of perhaps Ceridwen, though I fear once it’s her turn, there will be no gentleness there—has as much tenderness and patience as Seren. She will take care and withstand everything thrown her way. You can’t scare her.”
“How do you know?” Lark licked her lips, her throat suddenly dry. “How do you know that it’s what I fear the most?”
Rhiannon gave her a level stare before finally allowing herself to lay a hand on her arm, the fingers gentle and careful. Deliberate.
“I know because I recognize it. I felt the same. I was so very afraid to show anyone what had been done to me. Prudence didn’t flinch, if you’re curious. Those who care for us truly will accept us along with our past.”
Lark brushed the fingertips over her arm and moved away, just a little step, breaking the connection.
“Some pasts cannot be accepted, Rhiannon.”
“And some people deserve to be allowed to know and make the choices for themselves. Talk to Seren.”
Rhiannon’s words blew through the quiet kitchen like a stray draft, opening the creaking doors of Lark’s heart even as the woman herself left the space without making a sound or disturbing the air around her.
