Pulling the drawing off the sketchbook, I slid it across the table. She picked it up and held it between trembling fingers.
“What do you think?” I asked.
Visibly swallowing, she pushed out of her chair, leaving the drawing beside her plate of uneaten food. She stood by the window staring out across the front yard, not saying a word.
I glanced at the sketch and frowned. Was it even close? It had to be, but I was starting to think maybe this was a bad idea. Cautiously, I joined her at the window.
“Liana, if it’s not right, we can try again. Or not. It’s your choice.” At her continued silence, I succumbed to the urge to ramble. “I’m still pretty rusty. Any errors are from me, not your description. Maybe we could—”
She turned from the window and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head against my chest. “It’s perfect. I never imagined…” She tilted her head back, locking her gaze with mine. A fresh wave of tears glistened in her eyes. “For someone who acts as if they have nothing left to give, you sure give a lot. Your time…your money…” She smiled. “Your talent.”
Relief washed through me, and I lowered my mouth to hers, unable to believe I’d lasted the entire morning without trying to kiss her. I tasted the salt as her tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks.
“It must be because I’m a terrible recluse.”
A laugh bubbled through her tears, and she returned my kiss, then whispered, “I knew you’d eventually switch sides.”
Chapter 16
Liana
With the new picture of Hendrik in hand, we made a stop at the Ever Gazette. Thanks to Bowen’s connection, they agreed to print the missing poster, and one of the paperboys even offered to distribute the image around the kingdom. I couldn’t believe how much progress we’d made in such a short time.
Now, we were headed to the orphanage to investigate Ethan’s disappearance and check on his sister, Annie. I stared again at the young face peering back at me on the poster in my lap. The eerie similarities between us made my belief we were all connected feel stronger. Ethan’s drawing made him look weary, as if he’d lived and experienced more than someone his age should. When I looked in the mirror after escaping the witch, I’d projected the same weariness. I recognized the bone-deep knowledge that I wasn’t like other people and never would be.
Bowen sat quietly on the seat across from me as our carriage rumbled slowly down the cobblestone street. I was getting used to the confined space, associating it with a positive outlook. I wasn’t trapped inside the carriage; it was taking me to where I wanted to go. So many things were changing, and I was changing along with them.
My mind flashed to the night before. It wasn’t bravery or a sense of gratefulness that offered him a kiss. I’d wanted to feel close to him. To see if I’d only imagined the warm, fluttery feeling inside my chest whenever he was around.
I hadn’t imagined it.
It only magnified at breakfast, when he’d used his talent to help find Hendrik. But in the end, the joke was on me. For a girl who’d spent most of her life not letting anyone get too close, I’d become acutely aware of just how much I wanted that to change.
“What are you thinking about?” Bowen asked.
The drawing slipped from my lap, and I made a mad dash to catch it before it hit the carriage floor. I peered up at him, mouth opening and closing without an answer. “Nothing,” I mumbled.
“Your ears are red.”
“No, they’re not.”
He grunted and tried to contain a smile. “How would you know? You can’t see your ears.”
I scoffed and slumped back into the seat, making sure to pull my hair forward to hide the offending appendages. Folding the drawing into my satchel, I fumbled for a safe topic of conversation—anything to divert the attention from my wayward thoughts and their desire to pick up where we left off in front of the window.
“We should probably get our story straight. They’re not going to let complete strangers wander around the orphanage asking questions about missing children.”
Bowen shifted to the edge of his seat. “Good point. What did you have in mind?”
Wringing my hands together, I bit the side of my lip. “I have an idea, but I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”
“Whatever it is, it’s probably fine so long as you don’t intend to hold everyone hostage with your dagger until you get answers.”
I scrunched my nose. “The thought had crossed my mind, but no. I think our best advantage will be to meet with the headmistress as an interested party.”
Bowen’s brow creased. “An interested party? I don’t follow.”
Coughing lightly, I slid my gaze to the backs of my hands, hoping to get through my explanation without embarrassing myself. “Well, we are visiting an orphanage. I believe if we present ourselves as a couple looking to adopt, we may be able to tour the property and question some of the staff. They might let us visit with Annie.” I looked up as I finished, hesitant to see Bowen’s reaction.
