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“Hard to say, Summer Fae,” she calls over her shoulder.
Boss’s warning about northerners runs through my head, but I don’t care what that old man thinks right now.
She saunters along the steel walkways and pauses in front of the ship. I watch her through the gray-glass window for as long as possible.
For a second, I think I glimpse her looking back at me—the profile of her long lashes and round nose—but the frozen mist swallows her whole as she leaps onto the railing.
When I can no longer see her, I walk to the chair where she sat and graze a hand across the backrest while picking up the envelope. A small piece of paper flutters to the ground, and I immediately bend to pick it up.
Did she forget something?
It is folded in half.
Tucking the enchanted envelope under my arm, I spread the note open with my thumb.
You have very nice eyes.
My free hand flies up to touch my eye, wondering what she could find so unique about the same amber-colored eyes that hundreds of Summer Fae have. The phrase is so… direct. Not like the Fae I know at all. It is so… honest.
I put the file away hastily before pulling out my golden wallet. Separating one of the leather pockets, I carefully place the little note inside.
Chapter4
Back to Reality
ELVA
“Are you listening to me at all?”
A tinny voice comes through the speaker of my FaePhone. I glance at the silver rectangle resting on the counter while I munch on freshly baked cookies and daydream about amber eyes.
Those damn amber eyes have been infiltrating my thoughts for days, distracting me. I almost missed a job because my head was in the clouds. It is that man—the Summer Fae. Something about him has been haunting me every waking moment for the past two and a half weeks.
Did he get my note?
Sighing, I keep my mouth shut and sip my coffee.
I can’t lie, and even if I wanted to, I’m talking to my best friend—well, really, my only friend—Helena. She’s a master at figuring things out from afar. We've known each other since we were younglings, and she's the only connection I’ve kept with my old life.
“Hello?” Helena starts speaking again.“This is important. I’m asking you if you will return for the Summer Solstice.”
“When I come back, you’ll know.” Not an answer, but since I have no intention of returning to my mother’s iron grip, it’s the best one Helena will get.
“Fine,” she grumbles. “I have to go. I can hear my new butler, Alastair, calling for me.”
“Enjoy the swim, Helena,” I say around a mouthful of chocolate chip cookies. “I’ll call you if I can.”
No promises.
Never any promises.
Saying our goodbyes, we hang up the burner phones before I jump in the shower. I let the hot water run over me. The steam eases the perpetual tension that seems to live within my shoulders. I lather myself in a cooling peppermint body wash, enjoying the scent as it slips over my body.
Lifting a hand, I trace the white tattoos permanently scrawled across my dark skin. They are a reminder. Of my heritage. Of the promises I made to myself.
And a reminder of all the things I’m running from.
“You are not somecommonWinter Fae,” my mother scolds me as I march into our home and pull off my fur-lined coat. “You can’t run about the world and ignore the Northern court. It’s not appropriate.”
