“I appreciate the concern, but I’m alright.” I try to brush him off, but his grip holds tight.
“I’m serious, Livi. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d been hurt.Gods, or worse, you never came back.” He leans his forehead against mine and lets out a deep breath. I tense, because this feels different. Again, too intimate.
I open my mouth to reply. Or pull away. Literally anything. But before I can make any effort to put an end to whatever this moment is, he tilts his jaw forward and presses his lips to mine.
My entire body locks up. I’m… confused? Shocked? Tom has never shown any sort of romantic interest in me. Especially with the number of young women from the village who are said to be stumbling out of the tavern and into bed with him on a daily basis.
Eventually my senses return as I’m flooded with rage. I shove hard at his chest, dislodging his lips from mine. “Tom, what thefuckwas that?” I spit out.
“I just…” He scrubs a hand down his face and takes a step back towards me. “Livi. I—” I hold up my hand to stop his approach.
I let out an exasperated sigh and shake my head. Seriously, what the actual fuck was that? I start to laugh out loud, probably—no, definitely—sounding hysterical.
“Tom, I appreciate that you were worried,” I try to placate. “But in what world did it seem likekissingme was the right move there? I’ve given you no indication that that was something I even wanted. And neither have you!” I gesture my hands wildly in his direction. “You’ve never once made it seem like that was something you even wanted with me!” I’m all but shouting at him by the time I finish speaking. The longer I think about what just happened the more my rage grows.
“Livi, I’m sorry. I only realized how I felt once you were gone.” He rubs the back of his neck and has the audacity to look embarrassed.
My mouth opens and closes several times, gaping at him like a fish out of water.
“I don’t even know what to say to that,” I finally manage to get out, still stunned by his admission. He moves to take another step forward, but I back up a step and hold up a hand, maintaining the distance between us. “Tom, I don’t think this is a good idea. You’re my best friend, practically mybrother.” Not to mention the fact that I’m Fae and he’s a human.
I can see in his posture the way his hackles rise at the word brother. I mean, that was probably not the best method of trying to get my point across. But also, heislike my brother.
“I see,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Listen. I’m flattered. Really. But I don’t think it’s a good idea.Wearen’t a good idea.” I don’t even know if I’m sticking around here after I speak with Fleur.
He balls his hands into fists and his nostrils flare. I can feel the agitation radiating off his body from here which only puts me further on edge. I’ve never seen him angry like this.
“I, um, should get back to Aunt Fleur.” The title feels sour on my tongue as it leaves my mouth now knowing the full truth.
“Right. Let me walk you back. You never know what could be lurking in the woods.”
It takes everything in me to bite back the laugh that wants to bubble out because I doubt Tom has any inkling of the brutish male that is mostdefinitelylurking in the woods as we speak.
I simply nod as we start back off towards the cottage, but I find myself keeping additional space between the two of us that I never would’ve previously.
I leaveTom when the path splits between our respective cottages. He still seemed on edge and tense for the entirety of the walk, but he didn’t say anything further. I’m just grateful he didn’t fight to walk me all the way to my doorstep.
When I walk back through the door, Fleur is sitting at the small table in the kitchen with a mug of tea in front of her. I can smell the herby floral notes from here and know it’s the blend she usually drinks when she’s stressed.
Guilt flares in me again knowing I’m the reason she’s stressed. I don’t think I’m at a point to forgive her yet, but I can understand that keeping this secret must have weighed heavily on her. And I know for a fact that I probably didn’t react as well as I should’ve.
I close the door behind me and stalk to the table, taking the chair opposite her. I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my seat, staring at her.
“Let’s talk about magic.” I uncross my arms and lay my palms on the table to lean towards Fleur. “Why does it feel like I’m human? Do I even have any power?”
Fleur cringes and a grimace reaches her face. “That would be my fault.” I furrow my brows in confusion, and she must be able to read the question in the action. Letting out a sigh, shecontinues. “When you were born and we decided to hide you away in the human realm, I performed a ritual of sorts.”
I tense at her words. “What do you mean? What sort of ritual?”
“As Fae children age, they slowly start to come into their powers, and they can sometimes manifest accidentally and at inopportune times. It’s also incredibly hard to control until you’ve had proper training.” She pauses and I brace myself for the horror that I know is coming. “To best protect and hide you, I bound your magic.”
“Youwhat? What does that even mean?”
“Essentially, it’s like locking your magic behind a vault of sorts. It’s still there. Just tucked away for safekeeping and to avoid any accidental outbursts.”
“How do you unbind it?” I ask, the panic rising, chest tightening.
