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Charcoal.
What I’d give to have something besides my own thoughts to keep me busy. A distraction. An emotional outlet.
Forcing my face into neutrality, I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing my hands itched to grasp that coarse paper. To draw until my fingers went numb. I didn’t even like drawing—that was Lilian’s thing—I much preferred burying my nose in a book, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
Tightening my hold on the towel, I plucked out a sleep shirt and closed the drawer with a deliberate motion.
“Thanks, but I know better than to accept a gift from a faerie. It’s never what it seems, and I already have too much to lose. Not to mention I have nothing to give you in return.” I regretted the words the instant they rolled off my tongue, but I bit my cheek to stop myself from taking them back. “Do you mind?” I pointed to my towel.
Talon turned around, gripping the top of the bathroom door frame. The muscles in his back stretched against his shirt, pulling it taut.
I kept my voice steady as I continued, needing to fill the tense silence. “Humans aren’t as ignorant as you think we are. We grew up learning your folklore.”
Talon laughed, and not that unusual melodic sound he displayed that first day of training when talking to his friend, but a brutal, haughty timbre. Annoyed. “I have nothing to gain by tricking you.”
I scoffed my disbelief, unwrapped the towel from my body, and laid it on the chair beside me. Talon kept his attention locked on the bathroom wall away from me as I pulled on my clothes—one slight movement and he’d see me naked. My pulse quickened, remembering the way he had looked at me before the trial. A gaze filled with something I couldn’t put my finger on. The warm sensation that grew in my belly. The muscles in his forearm fluttered.
I absently licked my bottom lip.
“As flattered as I am, stop staring, Elowyn, and get dressed.”
I coughed in surprise, brushing the wrinkles out of my sleep shirt. “What? I wasn’t staring.”
“You’re practically burning holes into the back of my head.”
I scoffed. “Believe it or not, Talon, just because you look the way you do doesn’t mean every female is drooling over you.”
His body shook as he laughed. “As underhanded as it was, I accept your compliment.”
“That wasn’t…” I sat down on the chair, running a hand down my face. “It doesn’t matter. So, this wouldn’t be a gift, then?” I pressed.
He turned around, twirling the roll of parchment between his fingers as he strolled toward the chamber door. “No, I said I had nothing to gain by tricking you. But if you insist, you can pay me back by winning the trials using whatever means necessary.”
I put my hand on my hip. “Why? I already planned on doing that. It can’t be that simple. What’s the catch?”
Talon held out a hand, examining his fingernails. “Because despite your stubbornness, firefly, like I’ve told you before, I’m not your enemy. I want you to succeed. For both of our sake.” He paused, slipping his hand into his pocket, and meeting my gaze. I held my breath as he added, “And maybe I was a little harsh today, so I thought maybe this would help encourage you or, at a minimum, put you in a better mood.”
“Are you apologizing?” I bit my lip. I couldn’t believe my ears—maybe swine could fly. Sure, he didn’t come out and say the words, but it still counted. At least in my book.
Talon, however, didn’t share my amusement. He tipped his chin toward the table, and I followed his gaze, noticing the parchment splayed out with the tin of charcoal on top. How did he?—
“Consider it an olive branch.”
I whipped around to thank him, only to find the space empty, the door shutting behind him on a gentle breeze, leaving nothing but his fresh teakwood scent in his wake.
The parchment rustled from the wind, a small, simple gesture that meant more than I could put into words.
An olive branch. I could live with that.
Fourteen
Awarm breeze kissed my face as Mother and I strolled along the footpath, tall pine trees on each side lining our way. It was nice to get out of the house and into nature. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d done something like this or the last time she was so healthy, let alone had enough energy to go on a hike. It made my chest swell with happiness, seeing the sparkle return to her features and the pink blush back on her cheeks. It was like she was never sick.
After about a quarter of a mile, we came to a stop at a fork in the road, two signs directing the way.
Left: Lodge/Visitor Center
Right: Whisperwill Falls
