Page 14

“All right, all right,” Evelyn said, unwrapping the fish scraps.

Tired, weary, and fresh off a ship with serious sea legs, she’d had her first meal in Callum at Mr. Finn’s, and the shop owner never forgot Maxie’s parcel of scraps.

Evelyn scratched behind Maxie’s ears, laughing as the cat devoured her dinner. Maxie meowed and flicked her tail in contentment.

“Evelyn?”

Her true name froze her blood and quickened her heart rate.

But the woman’s voice—

“Tovi?”

A wide-brimmed lavender hat obscured most of her best friend’s face, but Evelyn would recognize that snowy blonde hair anywhere. Decked in the finest garments, Tovi stood tall and proud and appeared regal in a full-length petticoat the same pale shade of cream as her skin. She stood a few feet away, her mouth agape and tears welling in her jade eyes.

They both burst into a run, crashing into a hug and holding each other with endearment and heartache.

Two years.

Evelyn hadn’t seen her best friend, let alone anyone from home, in two years. She held her willowy friend close, disbelief replaced her heart-pounding fear of being discovered by someone who would drag her back.

Evelyn pulled away but didn’t dare let go of her friend. “What are you doing here?” she asked, voice breaking. Goddess, she cried with joy.

Tovi put her hands on Evelyn’s cheeks, running her thumbs across her tears. Comforting her like she had after Evelyn’s parents had died.

“I . . . I’m here on business for the trading company,” she said in a rush. “And please tell me you are not crying!” Tovi teased.

“It’s the wind,” Evelyn said.

Her friend laughed and raised a questioning brow. “Ah, yes, the wind!”

“I see tears of your own, Tovi!” Evelyn said.

They laughed again, and a sense of comfort washed over Evelyn like the gentle warmth of the afternoon sun. Laughter had always been woven into their relationship.

The first time they met, Tovi had leaned over and whispered horrible jokes about the history professor until Evelyn thought she might burst into a fit of laughter after holding it in for so long. Tovi had offered Evelyn distraction from the stares her title as Daughter of the Goddess had gained her in the classroom. Her friend was the only one who’d never paid mind to that.

Tovi was human, the only daughter of a wealthy trader. His wealth and influence had secured Tovi a spot at the university in Nua, which accepted a handful of humans each year, despite his wishes to marry her off for business alliances. Tovi did not care about Evelyn’s title or magic, but she understood duty and family expectations. She’d worked hard at university and earned her place helping run her father’s business, instead of being a pawn in it.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Evelyn whispered.

The last time she’d seen Tovi, it’d been at her parents’ funeral. Nua had been overcome with grief and dreadful rain, and Tovi had held Evelyn as she cried herself to sleep for days. Mirella had been busy stepping up as Coven leader while Blair assisted with the transition, and yet Tovi had stayed.

To this day, she was the only one who knew Evelyn’s secret.

As if sensing Evelyn’s thoughts, Tovi pulled her into another hug. Despite her willowy frame, she possessed considerable strength. She released Evelyn and kept her hands on her shoulders. “It’s good to see you, Evelyn,” she said.

Evelyn almost smiled but the sound of her name felt like a whip. She covered her friend’s mouth with her hand and shushed her.

Her friend blinked and then looked around. Not a soul walked the area they stood in. She swatted Evelyn’s hand away and pulled her to the side. “What?”

“Saige. My name is Saige Ferriwether in Callum,” Evelyn said.

Tovi’s shoulders drooped, but before she could comment, a hiss sounded below them. Maxie sat between Evelyn’s legs, her yellow eyes slits as she stared up at Tovi.

“Still not friendly, I see,” Tovi said.

“Maxie isn’t friendly with anyone.”