Page 86 of Midwinter Wiles & Valerian Dreams
“Lark—”
He silences me with a brush of his fingers through my hair. “It’s true. At least, any Point Fae would think so.”
“I don’t—” This time I stop myself. I don’t think that, but I can see now how the Wilder Fae are treated as less. It’s awful that Lark has had to spend his life concealing who he really is. First the Lyslander side of him, then his magic.
“But the strongest magics,” he says slowly, “often have a mirror effect too, as I’m sure you know. If your ice magic grows potent enough, you’d also gain stronger heat and fire magic.”
It’s true, though I doubt my magic is as strong as his. But what is he saying? What’s the opposite of illusions?
I lift my head to meet his eyes.
“It means…” He exhales, gaze flicking away. “I can make others see what I want. But I can also see what others don’t want me to.”
I don’t understand. What is it he sees?
Before I can ask what he means—before he can say more—the front door to the cottage slams open.
Our heads swivel to the locked bedroom door.
“WELL, WE’RE ALL SET UP FOR THE PLAY,” Katja bellows from the front hall, ripping through the hushed space. “THAT SURE WAS A LOT OF WORK!”
There’s a low grunt, then Mikael’s voice joins hers, “YES, and now we’re home!”
Lark groans and buries his face in the crook of my neck. I suppress my laughter against his chest. “Do they think we’re deaf?”
“WHY ARE WE YELLING?” Helkki joins in.
“NO REASON,” Katja shouts back. “Just glad we’re HOME!”
“You’re so weird, Doc,” Juani mutters.
Footsteps shuffle. Boots thunk against walls. Something heavy drops to the floor.
Chaos has returned to our tiny sanctuary.
There’s a faintthwackand then an “Ow.”
“What’s wrong?” Katja’s concern cuts in.
“Nothing,” Juani mumbles. “Just a sliver.”
“Oh, a sliver removal! What a wonderful lesson for everyone to see, OVER HERE IN THE LIVING ROOM.”
“No,” Juani groans. “I don’t want everybody to watch.”
“Why not?”
His answer is barely audible, but we catch it.
“Sliver’s in my butt...”
Lark bursts into laughter, and I lose it right after, while the kids’ cackles echo through the cottage. I slide the cover off with a sigh, reaching for my blouse. “I guess we should join them.”
His gaze follows me hungrily. “Do we have to?”
Smiling, I lean down to press a soft kiss to his lips. “Sadly, yes. They know the engagement’s not real. We don’t want them to get the wrong idea. Just because…thishappened. I mean…nothing’s changed, right?”
My chest aches even as I say it.
