Page 54 of The Book of Legends
“Whatever,” I mutter.
A Fae male nearby leans in, flashing a grin. His hair is so dark, it shimmers blue in the light. “Don’t mind her. Dedra gets cranky when she doesn’t get her way.”
I arch a brow. “Good morning.”
“Magnus,” he says. “And I already know who you are.”
One of his friends flicks a grape at his head. “Stop flirting.”
Magnus laughs. “I was making conversation. Look what happened to Tristan.”
“Fuck off, Magnus,” Tristan growls from across the hall—his face now marred by a fresh scar trailing from eye to cheekbone.
I glance at Kainen, but he doesn’t react. Doesn’t flinch. He just eats, like Tristan isn’t even there.
“You’re not in charge anymore, Tristan,” Magnus calls.
Some Fae snort. Others nod. Tristan glowers, fists clenched.
Nieve leans close, her voice barely a whisper. “Kainen took his rank. His position.”
I nod, the memory of that night still raw.
My eyes drift back to Kainen—and the flowers. I lean toward him, voice low. “Thank you... for the flowers.”
He looks up.
Black eyes meet mine. “They weren’t from me.”
My stomach sinks.
“They’re not real,” Dedra adds with a smug smile. “There’s no garden here, in case you missed that.”
I reach for a banana, fighting the heat rising in my cheeks.
“They were from Nieve,” Magnus explains. “She’s an Anothusai—flower Nymph. Magic. She just wanted to cheer you up.”
I glance at her. “Thank you.” My voice softens. “No one’s ever given me flowers. Not since my aunt.”
Magnus tilts his head. “Where is she?”
My fingers curl around the fruit on my plate. “She’s dead.”
The table goes quiet.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
I nod, throat tight. “Excuse me.” I rise, eyes blurry, and hurry from the dining hall. The stairs blur beneath me as I take them two at a time.
By the time I reach my room, the tears are already falling.
I collapse against the wall, pressing my face into my hands—the grief of every moment, every loss, hitting me all at once.
The door creaks open.
I glance up, quickly wiping the tears from my cheeks. It’s him.
Kainen.
