Page 92 of Samhain

“Do you like eggs?” he asked.

“Guess so,” she said. “Are they the same as in Faerie?”

“I think so. We’ll check,” he said. “And pancakes. I bet you like pancakes, too.”

“What are pancakes?”

“They didn’t have pancakes in Faerie either?” He blew out a disbelieving whistle. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was shaking his head. “You’ve been missing out, kid.”

“We liked to eat roasted boar and salted fish for breakfast.” She said it like she ached for that very same thing.

Fucking. Yuck.

“Sure,” Lex said, his tone dripping with the same disgust I felt. “If you’re into that sort of thing. But when I was ten, I liked French toast the best.”

“When Lex was ten,” Ivy said, rolling over to prop herself up against the headboard, “he used to sneak his eggs under the table to his dog.”

Lex gasped and held a finger to his lips, glancing down at Poppy with a smile. “You see? Ivy can’t be trusted with secrets.”

“Don’t worry, I still haven’t told your au pair.” Ivy shot him a grin and winked.

“What’s that?” Poppy asked, glancing between us. “Au pair?”

“It’s someone who takes care of you,” I said.

“Like you?” She raised her eyebrows, expectation dripping from every syllable. The question hung between us because we hadn’t officially discussed this yet. “Are you going to take care of me now?” She seemed unsure and hesitant. Who could blame her? We’d brought her here with no plan and no idea of what to do next.

“No matter what, Poppy,” I said, swinging my feet to the side so I could stand and walk closer. “We’ll always make sure you’re safe. Okay?”

She nodded and frowned. It wasn’t the answer she was looking for, but it was the only one I could give her. I agreed with Lex and Ivy. She couldn’t come back with us to the States. If she did, she had to stay hidden. She had to stay with someone unconnected to any of us, somewhere Alberich wouldn’t think to look if…when…he came searching.

“Thank you,” she said again, her voice small and hushed.

“Don’t mention it.” Lex chucked her chin with his fist, giving her his classic charismatic wink.

The whole scene warmed my heart, and I again hated the fact we couldn’t bring her home. We’d spent the last two years apart, but being together again reminded me why we were given this gift to begin with. We were soul mates, all of us. We were each other’s home. We’d promised so long ago that it seemed like lifetimes had passed since then.

Were we really so different from those college students in the woods? I looked down at the scars on my hand and reminded myself it hadn’t even been half a decade. We’d made a vow that night, and we had the proof etched into our skins. We were already committed to each other, and in the end, it was the four of us.

I had to believe that. I had to believe Lex’s vision would come true because if I didn’t, I’d be sucked down into misery and I simply would not have that. We would end up together or so fucking help me…

“Breakfast’s here.” Miri came into the room carrying a tray of coffee and a few plates of food.

My stomach growled. Loudly.

“Carter’s always hungry,” Lex said to Poppy.

“That’s right,” I said, rubbing at my belly while I hovered over Miri’s shoulder. “A never-ending pit. Whatcha got, Juliet?”

“Let the girl pick first, Romeo,” she said, shielding the tray with her body.

Poppy looked over the items on the plate but ultimately decided on an apple and sat down.

“That’s it?” Lex said. “Here, try this.” He handed her a cinnamon roll, but she shook her head and clutched the apple tighter.

“No thanks. Just this.”

“All right,” he said. “Your loss. More for Carter.”

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