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“Lark! Lark—” Seren skidded to a halt in front of the counter where everyone was huddled at its foot and reached for Lark’s other hand. “I came in as soon as I heard. Deryn is closing both our shops, and Rhiannon is getting Prudence.”

“Wow, you really marshaled all the forces.” Lark knew her smile was weak, but a windswept, disheveled Seren was… sweet. She was so sweet, and Lark’s heart squeezed painfully in her chest. She could not allow anything to happen to Seren, even if she had to⁠—

“I’m here. I’m here now, and that’s all that matters,” Seren murmured.

“So you all are going to just sit in my kitchen on the floor during lunch service and wait for the next two hours? How about you do something useful for a change?”

Seren glared at Victoria, who swung in carrying trays of dirty plates.

“Like what? We need to stick together.”

“And so you will. Today we stick together. Also, I fear I left a mess on your hands, Seren, you’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

Victoria’s face was entirely blank, and Seren stared at her just as blankly, uncomprehending. Lark wondered what mess and what was the entire thing about. She almost asked before Victoria waved them both away.

“How about we do the dishes, Lark gets back to cooking, and the rest of you maybe find other occupations? Everyone on the island knows that Lark works here. He can and will ask folks where to find her, and while most will tell him to fuck himself, or some such anatomically impossible suggestion, someone, maybe even that damn Colm, will direct him to the Tavern. So maybe grab a few tables in the front room and wait?” Victoria set the dishes in the massive sink and turned to face them, hands on her hips. “Honestly, do I have to tell you what to do?”

Lark blinked. Seren bit her lip. Ceridwen shrugged.

“That is actually not a bad idea.”

“Oh, sure, that’s so generous of you, Your Highness, to concede that I have good ideas. Now shoo, let me finish service in peace. Lark⁠—”

“I’m okay. I promise. It will all be okay. I’ll finish the mise en place with you, then do the dinner prep, get the trash, and get to my other usual duties. I owe you and myself that much. Then we shall see. Two hours is nothing when I’ve waited ten years.”

Lark watched everyone around her nod and bit her lip. Well, they were all protecting her. And she would just have to do what she had to do to protect them. To protect herself and her home. But above all, to protect Seren.

With Ceridwen and Rhiannon seated in the front room, Seren and Deryn were tucked into the quiet of the corner of the kitchen. They sat in silence, Deryn scrolling her phone, but Seren’s eyes stayed on Lark.

She could feel them. Could not escape them. And she needed to.

Lark took one look around the brightly lit kitchen and a plan formed in her mind. She’d take out the garbage as she said she would. It was early in the day for that, but surely nobody would blink an eye. It was part of her routine at the Tavern. Then from the back of the restaurant, she’d cut to the pier. With Deryn’s shop closed and the fishermen gone for the day, her pathway would be fairly clear. And the B&B that Magnus booked was close to the beach anyway. She’d find him there.

Was it a darned foolish plan? Perhaps. But she needed to make something very certain. Magnus wasn’t touching Seren. He was not sullying the beauty and joy and happiness that was this woman. He had taken years off Lark’s life, and she was done giving him what was hers. And Seren was. Lark’s. Lark’s heart. Lark’s life. Magnus would not have her.

The black garbage bag felt heavy in her hands as the back door closed quietly behind her. The April chill slithered up her spine, but it had been a perpetual companion of hers for years. What was one more day?

She did not want to bring her new jacket. She’d loved shopping for it. It was red like her beanie. It was light and fancy and just the best kind of purchase. Something that was a touch too extravagant but so warranted.

Years.

It took her darned years to choose something not because it was practical, but because it was pretty. And it would make her smile the entire spring as she wore it. Every time she put it on, she’d feel comfortable and comforted by the fact that she had done something for herself and it hadn’t even dented her wallet. She was making money. She was making a mark. She was living. Finally, after years and years. So she left the red lightweight jacket at the Tavern. Nothing of her future would be part of this conversation. Nothing would be tainted.

Lark sneaked around the Tavern, tiptoed down by the Cupcake, and exhaled. She glanced behind herself. It seemed that her plan, foolish as it was, had worked. She had made it out of the restaurant alone. Now to find Magnus⁠—

“I figured you’d do something stupid, child.”

Victoria, face showing so much anger that Lark flinched, was breathing hard, clearly from trying to catch up to her.

“Trash on a Wednesday at three p.m.? You think I am in my dotage, songbird?”

Lark shook her head before Victoria could lay into her again.

“I need to see him⁠—”

“You need to stay the fuck away from what that man is! It’s pure evil, you know it! Let my girls⁠—”

“No! You don’t know him! None of you understand what he can do. What he has already done. I can’t let this evil touch any of you. Not you, not Seren. I owe you my life. You’re… My own mother sold me to the highest bidder for prestige and a prayer, and you…” Lark blinked back tears and saw answering ones well in Victoria’s eyes. “You saved me. You loved me. You are more a mother to me than my own could ever be. Please let me go. You have to understand that I will protect you and Seren above all.”