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I looked down at the deep, shining green that was pulsing under my skin, offset even more by the pale, purple fabric of my dress, and tried to come up with something to explain away the color.
“It’s nothing.”Very convincing.I looked anywhere but at his face.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course,” I lied.
“Of course.” His tone was overly agreeable.
I ignored him, taking another long gulp of ale.You’re a mess, Lina. Get it together.I could feel, more than see, my skin changing into a kaleidoscope of colors, emotions darting through me faster than I could control.
Emerald. Amethyst. Ruby. All on repeat.
I focused on the little things. The sound of laughter in the tavern, the smell of pie wafting in from the kitchens, the way the leather straps of my shoes made a crisscross pattern — anything to distract myself. Anything to calm myself.
Edrich shook his head when I didn’t say anything else, then stared at the ceiling. The silence that stretched between us was palpable.
Thankfully, a familiar voice interrupted the lull.
“Lina, Darling, are you sure you want this one?” Piper tilted her chin toward Edrich. ”Surely, you could find a more congenialsoldier.”
A loud huff of air came from Edrich as his jaw clenched.
“Speaking of congenial, shouldn’t you be with yourLordright about now, Piper?” Edrich signalled for another ale, not bothering to look in her direction.
Piper’s cheeks reddened. Everyone in the tavern knew that she snuck out of the Estate where she was supposed to be staying to get to know her fiancé because his entire family was insufferable.
Piper shifted on her stool so that she was looking directly at Edrich. Red blossomed in her cheeks and her eyes narrowed. When her lips parted, I panicked. I tried to think of something to say that would prevent this all from escalating, but I didn’t have nearly enough time to think my words through.
“I want him!” I blurted out. “I mean, I need him…err…I want him with me when I go find the fairies.”Fantastic.My attempt to cover had me sounding like a crazy person before I even had the chance to explain.
While the rest of the tavern went about their evening, my friends all stopped and stared, their jaws hanging open in shock.
“Wha—” Neira started and stopped, her attention having been ripped away from the handsome soldier who’d arrived with Edrich.
Even Piper was speechless.
I was ready for their surprise. I knew that would wear off, eventually, as they understood why I needed to do this. What I hadn’t expected was Edrich’s carefully blank expression; the way his knuckles went white around his mug of ale.
Whatever small bit of warmth and life had entered his face for a few minutes was gone now. I prepared myself for his onslaught of words, but only a single word escaped his clenched jaw.
“No.”
“Yes,” I said back, and he huffed a sigh. “I’ve thought about it for a long time now, and it’s something I need to do.”
For years, I’d dreamed of finding people like me. People my size, a world I could thrive in.And now that Mama is gone… what else is keeping me here?
I swallowed hard before continuing.
“And I’d like you to come with me.”
Edrich opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. When he finally got something out, it was just a repeat of that single word, again.
“No.” It sounded more like a denial of my entire plan, than an actual response.
“If this isn’t something you’re up for, if it isn’t something you want to do, I understand. I’m sure I can find someone else to accompany me. But either way, Iamgoing.”
Piper and Neira were silent as they watched our showdown, Edrich shaking his head in disbelief, and me looking up at him with far more hope than I should’ve allowed myself to have.
