Page 30 of Changelings
Neomi pulled a face. “I’m your sister and kin, Irefuseto be equated with a dog or goats. And besides, I worry about you alone out there.” Shuddering, she squeezed Imogen’s hands again. “You could come stay at the farm for a while if you’re lonely. Maybe you’d feel better about courting if you were around more people.”
That absolutely wasn’t true, and she couldn’t tell Neomi she’d rather die than live under the same roof as Collin. Instead, she said, “Thank you, I appreciate that. But I’m happy in my home.”
Pouting a little, Neomi asked, “Will he even fit in that little cottage of yours? You might have to expand.”
“It’s a bit early to be thinking about that.”
“Maybe, but I’ve put the idea in your head, so now youhave tothink about it.” Neomi sighed dreamily again. “Oh, Gen, I’m so happy for you! He sounds kind. I’ve seen him in passing a few times—he’ssobig and strong. He’ll take care of you. And a manticore, how exciting!”
Imogen grinned ruefully. “He has brothers. Four of them—all just as handsome and exciting.”
“Hmm, very tempting,” Neomi said. “And I didn’t say handsome,youdid. But I’mhappilymarried, thank you.” Her gaze flicked over Imogen’s shoulder, and her smile widened. “And speaking of!”
Bounding up, she bounced across the kitchen to where Collin was just coming in the door.
Imogen held in her groan as she turned in her seat to face them.Never give a bully your back.
Collin caught Neomi in his arms, making a show of planting a smacking kiss on her lips. As she sighed and nuzzled into his chest, he looked up to smile smugly at Imogen, as if to say,youtried your best, but look how much she loves me.
Just as Neomi had always been beautiful, Collin had always been handsome. Golden blonde hair and brows, a neatly trimmed russet beard, and clear blue eyes gave him the look of a storybook hero, his straight white teeth always flashing in good-humored smiles. His parents owned a pretty plot of land on the other side of Granach, with a thriving little vineyard. He’d been popular in their school days, never wanting for attention or company.
So why he felt the need to tease and harass Imogen so much, she couldn’t understand.
Coal, they called her. Because her face was red as coals. Or the time they smashed berries on the right side of her face.“So you’ll match,”they said. Once, they’d tried to scrape at it to see if there was unblemished skin beneath. They brought her paint to cover it, and several times painted their own faces with exaggerated red shapes to mock her. They always noticed when it had grown bigger and snidely asked her when it would take over her whole face.
The only conclusion she could come to was that Collin’s was a truly malicious heart.
That was why she was so horrified when he and Neomi began courting. Imogen tried everything to separate them, begging their parents not to allow the marriage, protesting to Neomi again and again. But nothing worked.
Their one true, ugly fight as sisters was all because of him.
“How could you, Neomi? After everything he’s done!”
“We were children, Gen. It was harmless. And so long ago.”
“But he’s awful! Can’t you see that? I hate him!”
“Well, I love him. And love bests hate.”
What could Imogen say to that? Nothing. And so her sister had married Collin Kenny, the person Imogen hated most in this world, moving him into the family home.
He’d helped their father at least, easing his burden. But now that their parents were gone, the farm was Collin and Neomi’s—and if what Imogen suspected was true, the farm wasn’t prospering. If it failed because of Collin…
Another reason to hate him.
Smiling thatsmileof his, Collin nodded at her. “Look who’s finally graced our door. Hi there, Gen.”
Imogen bit back her scowl, but only just, managing to nod at least.
Only Neomi got to call her Gen or Genny, but the moment Collin married Neomi, he assumed everything of hers was his now, including the family farm and Neomi’s intimacy with Imogen.
She didn’t begrudge that married couples shared much and had a kind of closeness that was unlike other relationships, but shedidmind the way he had to intrude upon everything. He seemed to be a part of every aspect of Neomi’s life—in a way that Imogen didn’t see reciprocated. Perhaps that was how they preferred it—she knew it’s howhepreferred it—but Imogen didn’t like it.
The Ahearn farm was one of the largest in the area, always productive. But the Kenny’s vineyard had made them a small fortune, selling their grapes on to the great winery at Endelín. They’d expanded their house, obviously trying to imitate the manor home of the Brádaighs, and bought a shop for Collin’s younger brother to run in Granach.
His mother had made it clear that Collin was a catch—one Neomi was lucky to have caught at all. Imogen didn’t know how Neomi withstood weekly dinners at the Kenny household.
Imogen grimaced as Neomi summarized for Collin what they’d been talking about. Her sister, bless her, left out some of the more…personal bits. Yet, Imogen couldn’t help wanting to pinch Neomi’s lips shut. She didn’t have to tell him absolutelyeverything.
