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I smile to myself for a moment and place my hand over the ruby brooch, whispering my thanks quietly enough I’m sure she doesn’t hear me. My chest warms with her kindness. I just hope the world doesn’t steal it from her.
I walk up beside her. “Let’s go toourcafé.” I spin back around to trot down the cobblestones and audibly hear her release her breath in relief.
“Sausaaaage!”she cries and we both laugh again.
As we approach our favorite café, I see the Dreadius owner, Greysil. Her three horns are clear, translucent with an orange glow, like icicles against the winter’s dawn, taking on every light source that dares to dance upon her head. There is one on each side of her head and one down the center, the length of most Dreadius horns, just a little longer than their head. They tilt up at the ends. She’s bent over, tending to her signs and making sure that no ice lies on the steps to the café.
“Hi, Greysil,” I chirp. She straightens and turns to greet us. We’re regulars and have become quite friendly. It’s the interactions like this one that make my heart warm, some semblance of normality in my existence here.
Naminé averts her eyes quickly as Greysil looks at her with interest. Her dark brown skin shimmers with the morning’s orange hues and her piercing green eyes hold pools of kindness. Her sharp shoulders make her black apron look intimidating, but she wears it as well as she does her pearly smile. She’s a sight to behold and I half wonder if her presence is what makes this café so alluring.
“Good morning, Elodie, Naminé.” Greysil’s eyes linger on Naminé, as if she’s hoping she will look back at her.
Obviously I've caught on by now that these two have eyes for each other. I don’t bring Naminé here nearly every damn day just to have our coffee and to get some breakfast sausage. Nooo—I want her to get a chance of a date. It’s not easy to play matchmaker in a realm where we’re all spirits and gods, but damn it, I have to try. There’s nothing else to spend my time focusing on anyway.
I’ve thought about escaping, but there’d be no point. Arulius is bonded to me and I’m staying here to keep my friends safe. I think of Murph every day, the sacrifice he gave for me… No one else needs to suffer on my behalf.
So a petty matchmaker is what I’ve been reduced to.
“I’ll grab us a table, Naminé. Can you order?” I wink at her and quickly swing the café door open before she can get herself out of it. Once inside, I snatch the booth closest to the front window so I can watch their exchange.
Naminé’s shimmering, ash-blonde hair rolls beautifully over her shoulders and her cheeks are cherry red. I smirk to myself. I knew she liked Greysil.
They engage in awkward conversation as I assume the Dreadius lists out the specials for today, and Naminé nods respectfully. She reaches for the café door and Greysil does something I wasn’t sure she was brave enough to do: she grips Naminé’s wrist gently and turns her to face her. The Dreadius’s sage-green eyes fill with hope as she asks her something.
Fucking hell, just go on a godsdamn date already!
I try to get a better angle from my booth, so I lean as far off to the side as I can, cheek against the window in a shameless attempt to see the fruits of my matchmaking labor.
Both of their faces are red and plastered with smiles that make even my cheeks hurt. A warmth swells in my heart because I know at leastsomethinggood has come of today.
I straighten myself in the booth before either of them can see me with my face against the glass like I’m watching two puppies meet each other. The door swings open and Naminé finds our booth immediately.
“Why are you sitting up here? We always sit in the back.” She raises a brow and I don’t miss the glint of worry in her eyes that I might have seen their encounter.
I place my hands on the wooden table and cross my fingers together smugly. “Oh, I just wanted to get a view of the sunrise this morning.”
She narrows her eyes, not buying one bit of my bullshit. I can’t help but laugh as she notices the oily circle of my cheek print on the glass. She looks from the spot, to me, and back at the mark before her eyes widen at what I’ve done.
I quirk a smile.
“You… you set me up! How did you know I liked her?!” Naminé runs her fingers through her hair worriedly and smiles at me. Her amber eyes painfully remind me so much of Wren. I hesitate for a second, but shake the image of him from my mind. I’m sure he’s happy and finding a new fulfilling life.
“And?” I rest my chin on my palm, elbow to the table.
“And what?”
“What did you say?”
She furrows her brow and sucks in her lips—a nasty habit she has, really. “I said yes.”
“What was that? I can’t quite hear you when you whisper like that.” I cup my ear like I’m hard of hearing.
“I said yes!” She leans forward and smacks my elbow, earning me a forehead bang to the fucking table.
I raise my head, dumbfounded, and stare at her in shock. Her eyes are equally as surprised. Did she just… did she just smack me? Naminé, the sweet and kind guard? Smacked… me?
My lips turn up and I rub my forehead. “I like you—you’re quirky like me,” I say between chuckles. She holds her lips tightly, probably worried that I’ll report her to Kol. No one is to touch me except Arulius and Violet. But besides her, I haven’t had someone treat me like an actual fucking person in all my time here. So I happily let the throb on my forehead spill its pain and embarrassment through me.
