“Yeah, well, in case you forgot, new Fae here. I don’t really speak the language.”
“I am well aware of that fact, Liv.”
“So, what does it mean? Or does it not have a meaning besides being an endearment?”
He gives me a devious grin. “Oh, it definitely has a meaning, but I think I’ll keep that one to myself until you decide whether or not you want to learn.”
“Ugh! You’re the absolute worst,” I say, halfheartedly shoving at his shoulder. “Fine, then I get to give you a nickname too then.”
He raises an amused brow at me. “Oh, really? Is that how this works?”
“Yes, of course. Did you not know that?” I say with a smirk. “Maybe yours should be in the language of the Fae too… Think you’ll be able to give me the translation?”
“What makes you think I won’t tell you the incorrect word?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You wouldn’t.”
He shrugs nonchalantly and turns his head to look at the forest.
What a delight. Absolute ray of fucking?—
“I have it,” I proclaim.
He turns his face back to me with an eyebrow raised. “Oh, you do? That quick? Don’t want to give it some more thought?”
“No need, I’ve got it. I think it’s quite fitting actually.” I let a smirk spread across my lips.
He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Go on then, what is it?”
“Sunshine. You know, because you’re an absolute ray of sunshine,” I lace sarcasm through my words. “Especially in the mornings. All you’ve done since I met you is grunt out single words and order me around.”
His body visibly stiffens, and he narrows his eyes at me. “Sunshine.Really?That’s what you want to go with?”
He keeps his voice flat and almost disinterested so I can’t actually determine whether he likes it or thinks it’s stupid. “Yeah, why? Do you have a problem with that?” I cross my arms and raise my chin, daring him to challenge me.
“Kind of, yeah. I like to think I’m quite the opposite ofsunshine.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s kind of the point. It’sfunny. It really contradicts your dark broody vibes.” I wave my hand up and down his form to emphasize my point. “Plus, you have that little sun marking so maybe the Fates know something about you that I don’t. But if you don’t like it, I guess I can come up with ano?—”
“No,” he interjects quickly. “It’s fine. Just, a surprising choice is all.”
I give him a smug smile. “So? What’s the word for sunshine? And no lying,” I narrow my eyes and point at him, hoping I seem at least the smallest bit intimidating.
He shakes his head as he leans back against the stump. “No, actually I don’t think I will give you the translation.”
“What? But you?—”
“I never said I’d tell you. Besides, I think I prefer if you’re going to insist on mislabeling me to this extent that you keep it in the common tongue.”
I huff and slump back against the stump. “Fine. But I’m still calling you sunshine,” I grumble.
I sneak a glance at him out of the corner of my eye and see him leaned back with his eyes closed, he looks so relaxed, and I think it might be the first time I’ve seen him let his guard down to this extent. He has one knee bent with an arm slung across it. He looks so at ease. Peaceful. And if I’m being honest, the brief tangent in conversation took my mind off the mental spiral I was previously experiencing. I know I’m the one who derailed the conversation in the first place, but I appreciate that he let me and kept it going.
I allow my body to tilt so it’s leaned up against his. I rest my head on his shoulder and close my eyes. I take a deep breath, inhaling his scent of pine and citrus, letting it further ease my nerves and loosen my tongue.
“For starters, my parents are very much alive,” I whisper into the space around us, doing what I can to avoid disturbing the peaceful calm that has settled over us. Bastian doesn’t say anything, but the tension in his body tells me he’s listening, so I continue. “I suppose that means I’m not really an orphan. Just sort of… abandoned. Even though Fleur says it wasfor my own protection,” I mimic her voice when I recite the excuse. “And she’s not even really my aunt,” I let out a laugh that borders on hysterical.
He’s quiet for a moment, as if he wants to hold back the words. “Do you… want to find them?”
