“I took him home and walked back.” The rain pelts him, saturating his hair and clothes. He has to yell just to be heard over the storm. “I didn’t want to leave things like this.”
“For goodness’ sake,” I huff, and then I grab his soaked arm and pull him inside.
He shuts the door, blocking the rain, and then turns to me, dripping on Laverna’s woven jute rug. She’d probably care. I think it’s sort of ugly, so I really don’t.
“I’m sorry I upset you,” Ash says with a deeply etched frown. “It wasn’t my intention.”
I study him, and then I shake my head, looking at Rowan, unsure how to navigate this.
“Hello, Ash,” Rowan says, his tone clipped and angry.
Ash jumps a little, turning to look at my owl. “You cantalk?”
Rowan doesn’t answer this time. He just peers at Ash like he thinks he’s an idiot.
“Laverna found a charm so he could communicate,” I explain.
“When?” Ash demands.
“Around five years ago,” Rowan answers.
“Five years?” Ash demands, incredulous. “You’ve been able to communicate, and you’ve been hiding here like a coward forfive years?”
Rowan ruffles his feathers. “Just because Icantalk to you doesn’t mean I have any desire to.”
Something is off about this conversation.
“What about Anna and Gideon?” Ash demands. “Do you know how worried they’ve been?”
“Well, apparently you knew what happened. Why didn’t you tell them?”
“I didn’t for certain, and what good would it do anyway? You’re still an owl.” His face goes hard. “Does Keira know?”
“No.”
“Who’s Keira?” I ask, startled by the direction of the conversation.
“My fiancée,” Rowan says.
“Yourex-fiancée,” Ash corrects. “You jilted her.”
“I did nothing of the sort!”
“Well, it doesn’t matter whether you did, or you didn’t, because she’s engaged now.”
“That’s got to sting,” Rowan says harshly. “Your competition disappeared, and she still didn’t want you.”
“Listen here, you son of a?—”
“Wait!” I cry, holding up my hands, my head reeling. “Just…both of you shut up.”
They both go silent, staring at me.
“You’rethecousin?” I ask Ash. “The cousin who was in love with the same girl as Rowan?”
Ash shoots Rowan a dark look, and then he nods.
“But.” I take a deep breath. “No, that’s not possible. Rowan is…old.”
