I was quickly realizing that I could lose who I was to these people if I put them first. King Zephyr was no ordinary bully, and this would be unlike any assignment before.
Ivy circled me, then glanced at Neva and back at me. “Why can’t I sense any magic from you even though you have wings, but she has no wings and I can feel her magic?”
I winked. “I’m special.”
She snorted. “Right. Seriously, though. Why?”
Finn stepped closer and grabbed her elbow. “Ivy, that’s enough.”
She appraised me once more, and I was finding it hard to get a read on her. She had the snark I usually enjoyed, but there was a goodness about her that made me uncomfortable. I didn’t often spend time with the people I helped. Especially not since Neva had begun helping me.
“You really think she can help us?” Ivy asked Finn, as if I wasn’t standing right next to them.
“I do. She has her own motivations and actually, we need to talk about those, so let’s get inside before anyone sees her. You might not remember Lucinda, but I know plenty of others who will.”
Neva approached me as I ignored Finn’s words and snagged another fruit since Ivy had knocked mine out of my hands with her lack of grace. Breaking it in half, I gave one side to Neva before digging into the other. I was hesitant to follow Finn and Ivy into their house, and Neva knew it. She was getting too good at reading me.
“How are you doing?” Neva asked between chews, and I sensed her eyes trying to see something in mine that I wouldn’t allow her to find—fear.
“I’ve never been better. Let’s get this over with.” I finished the pomegranate half and tossed it behind me before we entered the small farmhouse.
Any emotions or worries I’d been letting get to me earlier were safely tucked away. I knew what needed to be done, and I wouldn’t let foolish things like feelings—mine or anyone else’s—distract me. Not even the way Finn made my skin heat when he leveled his silver eyes on me.
Ignoring those thoughts, I moved past him as he waited at the door for us and gestured toward the left. The first thing I saw was a small living area with one wooden rocking chair and a tattered brown couch. Ivy came skipping into the room from behind the doorway and pushed her way past her brother before taking the chair.
She watched me intently, but I didn’t mind. I did the same back to her. She was maybe an inch shorter than me. Her light green eyes stood out against her sun-kissed skin and held a pureness that I’d never known.
I opted to stand and leaned against the wall with my knee bent and arms crossed. My hope was the stance would keep Ivy from throwing herself at me again. I didn’t do hugs. I’d have rather made out with Dante the bloodsucker.
Neva took a place on the couch, still eating her fruit, picking at the seeds with her nimble fingers, and Finn found a spot on the wall across from me. I arched my brow at him. “Would you like to do the honors, or shall I?”
He ignored me and turned his attention to his sister. “So, we have a bit of a problem.”
Ivy crossed her legs and feigned surprise with a gasp. “You wouldn’t say?”
His chest grumbled. “Now is not the time for your special brand of sarcasm, Ivy.”
“But it’s so much fun.” She pouted and I decided I could like her a little more, as long as she kept her hands to herself.
Neva sighed, likely pity for Finn because she understood exactly how he felt.
“Like I was saying, there’s a problem. Lucinda is willing to kill the king, but she can’t do anything about the spell or poison you took on. We can search for someone who can at the same time as finding a way to get to King Zephyr, but there are no guarantees we will. If Lucinda is able to kill him before we can prepare a witch, or another capable fae, then you could die.” That last bit caused the color to leave Finn’s face, as if the reality of losing his sister was finally hitting him.
“I didn’t want to take this choice from you, but I need you to know that I can figure out another way. We don’t have to take Lucinda’s help,” he added when Ivy didn’t respond.
“Right, because letting