Page 135 of Across an Endless Sea

“That’s good,” Kitarni says.

“You should know,” I continue. “Nicnevin Titania loves your work as much as I do.”

The brownie’s hands go to her mouth, then she smooths her fur down and offers another little bow.

“Hey, you didn’t mention me,” Maeve growls.

“Give the poor seamstress a break,” Mab retorts. “Poor female looks about to faint as it is.”

She’s not wrong, and evidently Kitarni agrees. “Shall I see you back to your cart?” she offers kindly. “The Nicnevin has had a long day and could do with some rest.”

The brownie nods, bowing again, then hesitates, and bows again in the direction of the empty room—in the opposite direction to where Titania is actually standing, which makes both of us smile.

“I have all your other outfits on the cart, my lady—I think the pages were taking care of them—but don’t hesitate to call on me if you requireanything,” she stammers as she follows the dryad away.

“Other outfits?” Titania grins. “I’ll just make sure everything is fine, then I’ll be back.”

The spirit follows after them with an eager expression on her face.

Maeve rolls her eyes. “If we tear a slit here”—she points at the thigh—“you can wear a stiletto blade beneath.”

“Maeve,” Mab murmurs, tilting her head at the space behind me. “Come on.”

The two of them disappear, and I twist to see what they were looking at.

Oh, Bree is still here, lingering silently at the edges of my vision. Suddenly, I’m acutely aware that he hasn’t said a word since I fled the dungeons.

“What do you think?” I ask, breaking the silence. “Is it too grand for me?”

“It won’t do you justice,” he replies, shifting a half-step closer. “Nothing can. But it’s a beautiful dress.”

My cheeks burn as I glance down, trailing my fingers through the soft waves of fabric. “I—”

“Why didn’t you charm him?”

His question startles me, and I drop the silk, glancing back to see his green eyes fixed on me.

“Any other fae would be using your magic left, right, and centre. By now, you could’ve had a full Guard, and you could’ve charmed all of us to like one another. Your life would’ve been so much easier.”

“But it wouldn’t be real.”

“Would that even matter?”

I frown. “Well… yes. Obviously.”

His ears twitch on his head as he blinks at me.

“Bree…” I pause. “Did someone else… charm you?”

It’s the only explanation I can think of that makes sense. Of all my Guards, he seems the most averse to my new magic. Of course, while he was a prisoner, he could’ve been subjected to anything, and my stomach turns as the possibilities run through my mind.

He jerks his head down once in silent confirmation, then takes a step back.

“I’ll wait by the stairs,” he whispers.

Then he turns and flees, taking a fragment of my heart with him.

If we’re meant to be mates, why do the obstacles between us just keep piling up?

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