“What do you mean?” Everything in me screamed to rip my hand away, to free myself of his strangely alluring grasp, but I couldn’t. A prickle of magic settled like a fine layer of chiffon against my skin, and he looked up to meet my gaze.
“You now hold a sliver of my magic.” His pupils seemed impossibly large as he moistened his lips. I didn’t know what to make ofthatlook. “I trust Vora mentioned how this manor works?” He flippantly waved to the chandelier above, and the lights flickered to life of their own accord. Or, perhaps, his.
I barely found the word to answer. “Yes.”
“You cannot wield our power, but there’s a trace of it in this mark. If you wish for light, it will come. Water for your bath, it will appear. Of course, you’ll still have our attendants at your disposal, but I find, sometimes, privacy is needed.”
I forced a hard swallow. “How thoughtful of you.”
“I am a generous host.” He smiled, his touch tender against the brand on my arm. Finally, he straightened, and the peculiar hold he had over me lessened. Largely because I found it hard to believe any Ever wasgenerous, especially not a family that owned two mines yet likely never set foot in either. Images of my brothers’ soot-covered faces filled my mind.
“If that were the case, I imagine the people of Willowfell would fare better. Especially the miners who make it so easy for you to maintain this lifestyle.”
Orin looked puzzled. “The townsfolk... Is there not enough work? Or are they not receiving fare wages? I’ll confess, most of my conversations are only with the elders, and they’ve never let on that anything is amiss.”
“Well, that’s not surprising. All they care about are their gilded carriages and lavish homes. They may as well be Evers.” The jab left my lips before I could stop myself, and I stilled.
Orin, however, didn’t seem to mind my insult. Instead, his gaze turned sad. “I take it the coin from the mines isn’t being funneled appropriately. I’ll speak to the town leaders and adjust our cut if necessary.”
I didn’t have the fortitude to school my shock. My mouth fell open, and it took me several tries to find the words to respond. “Just like that? But why?”
“Contrary to your very obvious opinion, not all Evers aremonsters.” He released my arm to clasp his hands together. “We have funds to spare.”
Of course they did. “Is that why you offer such large rewards when someone manages to find an everjewel? What are they to you?”
At that, Orin tensed. He looked away to some indiscriminate spot on the wall, as if recalling a lost memory. “Everjewels, while useless to humans, are special to my kind. They help keep us, well, us. But that’s neither here nor there. Regardless, I’ll hold true to my word and evaluate what’s happening to the mines’ profits.”
That was news to me. We’d never been granted any explanation as to why the Evers paid such pretty sums for everjewels. Before I could pry further, Orin stood and extended his hand.
“Now, I do have a prior engagement commencing here shortly, but I have enough time to give you a small tour. If you’re so inclined.”
Considering I was liable to get lost in an estate this size, I couldn’t exactly turn down his offer. Plus, I didn’t entirely loathe the idea of spending a few more moments with him. Not after what he promised to do for my town. “Thank you.”
“I hope you’ll find it in you to trust me. I know you had no intentions of coming here, but perhaps fate intervened.”
Slowly, I placed my hand in his. “Indeed.”
“I, for one, am looking forward to our time together.” His voice was low and pleasing, and that indignant spark lit in my chest again.
“Researching blight, of course.”
Mischief filled his green eyes. “Of course.”
As we left his study, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d left a small part of myself behind. My inner wrist throbbed as we moved from room to room, his explanations of the spaces barely audible through the ringing in my ears. Orin was entirely too convincing. The old Edira would’ve yanked her hand away and rolled her eyesat his niceties. He was anEver. The same Ever who’d come for Rowena.
The same Ever who’d called her adear friend.
My chest tightened as we walked. His face was open, his smile wide. Everything about him was inviting. Had my aunt’s own reservations softened in his presence? I couldn’t say for sure, but I wanted to find out. Because when he looked at me, I saw nothing but boyish charm and hope. Hope that I would be the one to finish the work my aunt dedicated herself to. And while I knew hope was a dangerous thing, especially when it came to blight, I couldn’t help the timid smile that toyed with my lips as he led me through his home.
Seven
After guiding me through the impossible labyrinth of rooms—including a library, where we were to meet tomorrow to begin our work—Orin brought us to a halt in the foyer. Again, I was struck by the lack of aroma from the blooming hyacinths. Were they fake? I inched closer to one and gently grazed the velvety petals. The texture felt real, and there was a natural give and spring to the leaves like any healthy plant, but still, no fragrance. When I brought my fingers to the tip of my nose, all I got was a faint whisper of mildew.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Orin sidled up beside me and smiled. “We change them out with the season.”
“Their scent is off.” I nodded at the overflowing display.
His brows inched together as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Perhaps they’ve gone bad. I’ll have an attendant check on that.”
