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I rolled off the bed and knocked on the wardrobe door.
“I need something to wear to a picnic,” I said.
The door opened, and I expected the elves to toss something at me as they always did, but instead, six pairs of eyes stared back, assessing. After a brief moment, the door closed quietly. I was surprised by their discreet action and continued to be when they opened the door a few seconds later to dangle another white dress before me.
I took it and held it to my chest.
“Thank you,” I said and then turned from them to slip into the airy gown. It was off the shoulder with a laced front, which I tied loosely. The fabric was nearly see-through, as the fairies were keen to craft. I slipped on a pair of flat shoes and checked the mirror. My hair was wild and wispy from our earlier ride to the willow tree, and I smoothed it into a braid before I left for the courtyard, unable to calm the strange fluttering in my stomach.
It did not lessen, even when I found Casamir waiting for me. If anything, it burned hotter, filling my veins and flushing my skin. He wore black trousers and a loose white shirt, the collar of which was open, exposing the long column of his neck and chest, his creamy skin marked by my mouth.
His eyes darkened as he took me in, and I shivered beneath his gaze.
“Are you ready, sweet creature?”
“Yes,” I said, voice quiet.
He held out his hand, and as I took it, he drew me to him, his arm snaking around my waist.
“You are beautiful,” he murmured.
I smiled up at him. “You are getting very good at giving that compliment.”
His fingers touched beneath my chin. “It is easy to say when it is the truth.”
I felt as though I couldn’t breathe and let my gaze fall to his chest, fingers tracing his skin.
“I thought we were going on a picnic,” I said.
“We are.”
“You have no basket,” I said. “No blanket.”
He chuckled, and the sound drew my attention again. His eyes gleamed with mirth, and I loved it. I wanted to see that expression in his face every day.
“Come, sweet creature.”
Casamir did not release my hand as he led me into his garden. As we passed clusters of blooming flowers, sprites rose from the petals, flying in swarms ahead of us. As before, the garden grew thicker and fuller the farther we walked, and despite being with Casamir, I could not help feeling on edge. The garden seemed to open up and fall away until we stood at the center of a clearing where the ground was covered in small white flowers. Trees with crooked and twisting trunks framed the space, but it was beneath the tallest one that our picnic was splayed on a white quilt. Amid bouquets of small, pink flowers and pillar candles were bottles of wine, plates of meat and cheese, and sweet treats.
“Is it to your liking?” he asked.
“More than,” I said, smiling.
I had never seen a more beautiful picnic, but then I had never been on one.
He held my hand until we were seated and poured wine into elegant glasses. I watched as Casamir reclined on the blanket, looking relaxed and far too beautiful. I sipped my wine, which tasted like raspberries, both sweet and tart. Now that we were here, I felt so uncertain and so confused.
“I never thought any part of the Enchanted Forest could be beautiful,” I said.
“It is all beautiful,” he said. “But that does not make it any less dangerous.”
I offered a small, almost sad smile. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you were talking about yourself.”
“You think I am beautiful?” he asked, amused.
“Of course,” I said.
His stare captured and held mine, too intense to release.
