Page 117 of I Ran Away to Evil
As we walked, I could hear cheering nearby. Keith pulled me into a small community garden filled with lavender and milkweed and bees. We stood alone in the shade of a cherry tree; new buds covered the canopy like snowdrops. All up the street, beastfolk threw open windows and stuck out their heads while children paused from their play to watch expectantly. I followed everyone’s gaze and saw a swarm of colorful pixies letting off golden pixie dust as they swept through the streets.
Flowers turned their faces upward, blooming brighter. Trellises lifted delicate vines out, and leaves unfurled as if drinking in sunshine. Trees swayed, and the carrottops in the garden next to me shook gently.
The pixie dust was sparkling glitter that fell over the city, and more magical still was the fact that it disappeared after it touched down, leaving no mess.
Keith asked, “So, is this a nice surprise?”
“It’s perfect.” Something came over me, and I leaned my head against his arm and sighed. “It’s beautiful.”
Keith replied, speaking softly, “Yes. Yes, it is.”
There was a gentle breeze. I glanced up, and Keith was staring at me. His blue eyes were searching mine as he whispered, “Can I kiss you?”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. He leaned down to assist me, and I pressed my lips to his. We were awkward at first, and his stubble scratched my cheek, but I didn’t care. He tasted like warm honey and tea.
We stayed in the garden long after the Pixie Prim had flown on and everyone had gone back about their day. Eventually, he broke away and pressed his forehead to mine.
“Ria, let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 70
What If She Betrays You?
Keith
When Henrietta and Keith returned home, there was a new energy to their courtship and a comfort in their conversation that hadn’t been there before.
He could still taste her on his lips, and feel where she had tugged a little too passionately on his hair. If he had the option, he would be sitting with her in the garden right now, instead of locked up in the dungeon talking to a smug fluffy beastman.
“Can we get on with this?” Keith perched awkwardly on the daybed, not utilizing its comforting recline because … well, because he didn’t want to. “I still have work to do.”
Of coursethe first thing Henrietta had done when they returned was tell Rufus that she and Keith needed a session. As far as punishments went for nearly getting unalived by his own careless attitude, it was a bit much.
He didn’t think it wasthatbad.
“After hearing from Henrietta this morning”—Rufus tapped his notepad with a claw—“I have to say I’m impressed.”
That managed to pique his interest and he glanced at the notepad. Keith had not been privy to her session and could only guess what she had told his general. “Why?”
“Henrietta snapped at you, lied to you, almost killed you … and yet you’re concerned for her?” Rufus flipped through his notes.
“Yes?” Since the beastman neglected to mention the kiss, Keith would assume that Henrietta had not disclosed that part of their trip. He was momentarily distracted by the thought of her soft brown eyes and—“And you still want to pursue her?”
“People get upset when they’re afraid, Rufus,” Keith countered, dragging hismind back to the present. “According to Green, there is a difference between lashing out in fear and lashing out in anger.”
“And yet they still result in the same outcome.” Rufus dipped his quill into fresh ink and jotted down something, smiling to himself. He continued, “I have to say I wasn’t expecting you to readeverybook by Mola Green, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. They are overdue, by the way. Scholar Violet told me you’ve taken out all the relationship counselling books in the library; how did you find Green’s book on the childhood origin of self theory?”
“We aren’t talking aboutme. We are talking about why I’m not upset that Henrietta lied to me about being fine in the dungeon—which is where you are wrong, because I was upset. Very upset.” Keith pushed up his glasses and crossed his arms. She’d had him so desperate to save her that he’d pushed himself to the limit and almost reaped the consequences. They weren’t even engaged yet! He needed to slow things down. “Which is why we confronted each other about things and talked it out. Like reasonable adults.”
“You certainly are reasonable, I suppose,” Rufus teased. He hesitated a breath and then he took on a serious demeanor. “Also, I’m happy you’re not dead. [Void Damage]? Really?”
“Really really.” Keith sighed. His arm was barely healed after a high-grade potion last night.
“How will you counter it if she betrays you?”
Keith didn’t respond, the thought of Henrietta turning on him was more unbearable than he wanted to admit.
Rufus noticed his difficulty and changed tactics. “Or if she goes catatonic again?”
