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Ava whirls on Carver and smacks his arm. “For Sylithe’s sake, didn’t we just have a conversation about thinking before you speak?” She turns back to us, eyes glassy. “Ignore him. I’m working on it.”
“Are you all right?” I ask, slipping free of Riven’s grip and stepping toward her just as her tears begin to fall.
“I’m fine.” She swipes at her cheeks, voice hitching. “I’m just—I’m so happy for you!”
We meet in a crushing hug.
“How did this happen?” she asks. “When did this happen? Why did this happen?” She pulls back. “I feel so out of the loop. Tallis has kept me on such a short leash lately.”
“Why don’t we go catch up?” I say, linking my arm through hers.
“Yes, please.” She smiles. “We can leave these three to get to know each other.”
“Fortunately, I have somewhere to be,” Ark says, tossing Riven a wink.
Riven mutters something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like, “Please don’t leave me with this idiot.”
I lock eyes with him, willing him to hear my silent plea: Play nice.
His mouth quirks at the corner, seemingly answering: Anything for you.
“Come on,” I say, tugging Ava toward the doors. “I need to pick some flowers.”
There’s a sweetness in the air, a stillness in the breeze, like the kingdom is holding its breath.
I pick flowers as we walk, and I fill Ava in on everything that’s happened since I’ve come to the Fae Isles. She laughs in all the right places, fans herself when I not-so-subtly brag about how incredible the sex has been with Riven, and she asks about a thousand questions.
It feels like old times, talking to her like this.
“Did you know?” I ask suddenly. “When you told me Riven would be the one to give me a life filled with laughter and joy, a life filled with hope and love, a life beyond exile… Did you know we were going to fall in love?”
“I wish I could take credit for that,” she says with a sly smile, “but, unfortunately, I was just hopelessly optimistic.” She glances at me. “Is that what it feels like for you? Destined?”
“Yes.” I’m beaming from ear-to-ear. “I’m drawn to him in a way I’ve never been drawn to anyone. But not only that… somehow, he always knows what I’m thinking. What I need. It’s unusual in the best way…” I trail off, voice softening. “It just… it feels different. Unfamiliar and deep. Hard to explain.”
“Maybe you’re mates.”
I draw up short. “Mates?”
The word alone strikes something low in my gut.
“Could we be?” I ask breathlessly. “Mates?”
“Maybe.” She lifts a shoulder. “Do you want me to ask the trees?”
I hesitate.
Do I?
If we were mates, wouldn’t one of us know?
Arkyn said our scents were so entwined he could barely tell us apart. Was that just from all the sex? Or was it something more, something fated?
“Sure,” I say. Nerves catch in my throat. “Ask them.”
She crosses the garden to one of the trees and places her palm flat against it. Her eyes fall shut, her body going completely still.
The seconds tick by slowly.
