Page 26 of A Match Made in Error

“I guess, by default, that is true too,” she giggles, fueling my ego. “Will you tell me about them?”

“What do you want to know?” I respond without hesitation. Yes, the shadow fae are known to be secretive, but in the year I’ve been friends with Poppy, she has more than earned my trust.

“Were you born with them? Are they you or…something else?” Popp continues to watch my shadows move as she asks.

“No, the shadows are ancient, undying beings. They find a shadow fae during the introduction into the realm, sometime shortly after birth, and then return when the child comes into their powers in early adolescence. Somewhere between your first lie and your first mistake and stay until you die.”

“That’s morbid to think about.”

I shrug. “It’s our way, and they’re quite loyal once you earn it.” The shadows gather nearer while I talk. Almost like they’re listening.

“How do you tell them what to do?”

“They speak only the language of Ombra, the Midnight Tongue.”

“Can you teach me?” she asks innocently. Little does she know, they don’t often take well to outsiders using their tongue.

“I’ll teach you one thing, but it comes with a warning.” She turns to watch me, eyes wide at the gravity in my voice. “Don’t try to speak to anyone’s shadows but mine, and only the exact word I teach you. They seem docile, but they’re wicked if disrespected.” She nods in understanding. “Custodire.”

“Custodire,” she repeats quietly, and gasps when my shadows engulf us in a swarm of darkness. “What does it mean?” she asks, breathless but unafraid.

“Protect,” I answer. “But it’s not a command you’ll ever need when I’m around. I promise you that.” I wave my hands. “Reqium.” My shadows fall back to the corners of the room at this command, resting. “Gratias tibi,” I thank them before letting my eyes fall back to Poppy, whose own golden orbs are wide with wonder.

“What power do they hold?” A question kings would kill to know.

“They’ve existed longer than most kingdoms, and people have wanted to know that just as long.” One shadow curls near Poppy like a cat, and she pets it without hesitation. I’ve never seen anyone outside of Ombra so comfortable around the shadows. “They move unseen, carry whispers and secrets, can carry or hold just about anything, and even slip into others' minds on command.” Poppy swallows. “There are limits, but honestly, I don’t even understand them completely.”

Poppy blinks up at me, a small smile on her lips. “Thanks for telling me about them.”

Her smile is easy to return. “Thanks for listening.”

She looks around the room, from the evergreen in the corner to the single wrapped present beneath. “Can we do presents now?”

“Presents? That’s very presumptuous.” But without command, the shadows are carrying the gift I wrapped for her toward us. “Yes,” I huff, laughing. “We can do presents now.”

Poppy snaps her fingers, and a small green box appears in her hand. “Me first.” She extends it to me. Nothing extravagant. No bow or frills. “Open it!” she demands, her face showing just how eager she is. “And before you ask, no, I didn’t use magic for this. Though you might wish I had.”

I lift the lid off the box, and Poppy scoots closer, eyes on me as I take the tiny wooden object in my hand and turn it over. It’s a fox, like the one on the sign that hangs above my bar. It has slight imperfections, clearly made by hand by a beginner wood carver.

“I carved it for you and made the sides smooth. You’re always fidgeting with things, so I thought you could keep it in your pocket or something and rub the sides when your hands need something to do. It isn’t a big deal.” But it is. More thoughtful than any rare artifact or piece of jewelry my parents ever bought me.

Which is exactly what I got Poppy. Something I spent coin on while she spent hours making me something.

“My turn!” She gently takes the present the shadows are holding up for her.

“It’s nothing big,” I downplay. “Just found it lying around.” At a jewelry shop costing more than my rarest bottle of whiskey.

She pulls the thin, pure gold ring from the box. I thought she’d like it, to add to the stack she always wears. Most of which, I doubt are real Faebarian gold like this one.

“I love it.” Poppy’s face lights up, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I like seeing her happy.

She slips the ring onto her middle finger on her left hand. “Thank you, Riven.” Her arms wrap around my neck, the scent of her gourmand perfume settling around my chest and her warmth seeping through my shirt. “Happy solstice.”

“Happy solstice, Poppy.”

Our embrace ends soon, and we go back to just talking. Gossiping about regulars and discussing what we’ll do with an entire day off tomorrow. Eventually, Poppy stretches out near the hearth, her head resting against the couch once again where I lay. If we stay down here much longer, she’ll be in a combo sugar-and-wine coma, and I’ll have to carry her to the guest room.

My shadows tuck a blanket around her shoulders. Watching it—them interacting so naturally in my home—makes the world feel small in the best way. I think this is the closest feeling of home I’ve ever had.