Hadria gave a smug little shrug. “Not that many. Helen and Nic, Uriah, River, the twins... and Lekyi was invited, though he’s working.”
Dragonfly blinked. “That’s nota fewpeople.”
“Small enough.” Hadria grinned like a queen who’d just set the banquet herself.
Then her voice dropped. She darted a glance toward the window. “Collin’s been buzzing about this all day. Did you know he planned half the menu himself? I’m serious, he’s glowing. And he’s going to ask you for an outing—on the lake. When he does, youhaveto say yes. And don’t be all coy about it either. You have tomeanit.”
Dragonfly’s gaze slid toward the window but stopped short of resting on Collin. “Is he really?” Her voice came out small. “I mean—of course I’ll say yes. But... I’m not sure I’m ready for this to be more than just a little outing.”
“Youhaveto say yes,” Hadria repeated, suddenly urgent. “You’ll break his heart if you don’t.”
Dragonfly bit her lip. “I just—I don’t want to lead him on.”
“Youwon’t.”
“But what if...” Her voice had gone quieter, like it barely belonged to her. “I couldn’t stand to hurt him.”
Hadria groaned and crossed her arms. “God, you really don’t see it, do you? Collin’s been in love with you forever.”
Had he really? She hadn’t thought of it that way—not until recently, not until the way his voice felt on her skin or the way her heart jumped at his touch. But those were new sensations. Too bright and too confusing.
Her heart skipped painfully. “No. He—he likes me a little, maybe, but love? That can’t be right.”
“Are you joking?” Hadria’s eyes flared wide. “He talks about you constantly. He rearranges plans just to be near you. Helights upwhen you’re around. Everyone sees it—except, apparently,you.”
Dragonfly pressed her palm to her cheek. Her face felt too hot. “I mean... he said something about kissing me once. But I thought that was just because of the panther thing. He was shaken. It didn’t mean—”
“No,” Hadria said, gently now. “It wasn’t about the panther. He’s always looked at you like that. Aries says he’s been like this for years.”
Dragonfly’s stomach clenched. She looked out the window again. Collin was scrubbing the wire grate with a rag, humming something under his breath. He looked content, relaxed. Unknowing.
She hadn’t meant to encourage him. She just wanted to be there, to comfort him in grief, to share time. Maybe part of her had liked the attention, liked the way he made her feel—but she hadn’t planned for anything beyond that.
“I don’t think this dinner was a good idea,” she whispered. “Please... don’t encourage him tonight. I—I don’t know what this is. I don’t want him thinking it’s something more than it is.”
Hadria’s brows pulled together. “But what if itissomething more? What if this is the start of something really—"
“No,” Dragonfly said. “It’s just a crush. If he asks me out, I’ll go. Once. But that’s all it can be.”
Hadria opened her mouth, but Dragonfly lifted a hand. “Please. I can’t talk about this anymore. Not tonight.”
Silence hung between them. And then, “Where did you send Aries off to?”
Hadria sighed. “Aries is out checking traps. He should be back soon.” She pulled her frilly pinafore over her head, shaking out her dark curls. “Do you like my dress? Remember my old nurse? She snuck it out of the White Villa for me. Brought a few of my favorite trinkets too.”
Dragonfly nodded, trying to summon more enthusiasm than she felt. The dress was stunning—deep emerald silk that shimmered like beetle wings when Hadria moved, the beaded bodice catching the light and matching her eyes exactly.
“It’s lovely,” she said, almost managing a smile. “Too bad you can’t wear it out. If the steward saw you, your nurse might get in trouble.”
“I know. But I’m just glad to have it back.” Hadria’s voice softened. “Come—I’ll show you what else she saved.”
Dragonfly followed her into Aries’s bedroom. Hadria dropped to her knees beside the dresser and tugged open the bottom drawer. From beneath a stack of folded shirts, she pulledout a small leather pouch, the drawstring already fraying. She emptied it onto the bed in a glittering pile.
“Look,” she said, sifting through the trinkets until she found what she was after—a delicate gold bracelet, barely larger than a thumb ring. “I wore this when I was a baby.”
The chain was so fine it looked like it might vanish in sunlight. A tiny charm hung from it, swinging lightly between Hadria’s fingers.
“So pretty,” Dragonfly said quietly, running her thumb along the edge. “You must be happy to have it back.”
