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Adam glanced furtively in my direction without saying anything.
Bruise grinned. “The weapons expert holds the strings of your heart. They look like strands of golden light.”
They waved their hand between us, digits wandering the air as though following thin strings. When they tapped my chest, a hot sensation bloomed fiercely, leading me to meet Adam’s gaze. Bruise tapped his chest, too, eliciting what seemed to be the same response.
I blinked. “Unreal.”
“Totally not true,” Adam reasoned. “Just… lust or whatever.”
“Right. Just lust.”
Bruise laughed. “Oh, you wolves and your stubborn denial! Sasha was the same way, Charlotte.”
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me,” I commented. “She’s always been a stubborn woman. I’ve always been much more free-spirited than her.”
“Which explains the thorns surrounding your heart. Of course,” Bruise teased with a smirk. “And that explains his brick walls.”
I hummed curiously. “Oh, so they are walls. Like literally.”
“The visceral reaction he has to your affection must be annoying,” they continued despite Adam’s visible fuming. “Have you tried chipping away at his arteries first?”
“All the time,” I replied with a devious grin. The more I spoke to Bruise, the more Adam flared with irritation. It was charming, to say the least. “He loves my food.”
Bruise nodded. “Keep doing that. You’ll reach his heart eventually—either emotionally or physically.”
“Alright, wait just a fuckingminute,” Adam snarled. “This is about my son, not about my feelings for Charlotte.”
My grin widened. “So, youdohave feelings for me?”
“Haven’t we been over this?”
“I don’t know.” I pretended to yawn like I was bored of the subject. Andonlybecause it irritated him. “I can’t remember. Someone kept me from sleeping last night.”
He squeezed his hands together while exhaling slowly. “Let’s talk about this later. First, we need to find Henry.”
“Of course. Your son,” Bruise agreed. “Well,The Proper Archivesare currently closed for repairs considering the recent compromise of information, so I’ll grant you the knowledge I’ve absorbed from my elders.”
“What will it cost?” Adam asked, speaking my thoughts before I could say anything. “I know there’s always a trade thing for you people.”
The bemused expression on the fae’s features hosted a hint of annoyance. “What do you have to give?”
“Not much.”
“That much I presumed,” Bruise commented while turning to me. “But you’re teeming with all sorts of things, Charlotte.”
I sighed while shrugging my shoulders. “Already gave one piece of her away. Might as well give another.”
Adam frowned. “What are you talking about?”
I shook my head while extending my palm to Bruise. “It’s the last hug my mother gave me. Take it.”
“Cherry, don’t. I have plenty of memories to spare. Don’t—”
Bruise touched my palm, silky light wisping from my skin toward their fingers. Orbs of light swirled with the strings and absorbed my attention, inspiring a peaceful calm to wash over me.
The tavern disappeared. Busy streets sprung up around me, humid air whipping around me while I stared at the strange car in the driveway. My mother’s perfume returned to me, a hint of lilacs underneath a rosy hue that always warmed my cheeks. A teddy bear hung loosely from my fingers while she wrapped me in her arms.
I don’t want you to see what happens to me, munchkin. Her voice rose and fell like a wave, tempering the wind briefly as she said,Take this with you.
