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I follow Sage through the older style home that boasts a central hall with doorways into separate rooms. We end in a large dining space just off the kitchen with a set of stairs leading up to the second floor. Bounding down those steps, barefoot as always, is my blossom. Dressed in a sweet cornflower blue dress that brushes her thighs and an ivory cardigan, Daisy looks as innocent as a bunny and the part of me that lacks propriety instantly wants to do naughty things to her in that dress and prove she’s not as innocent as she looks.

“Hi,” she says the one word greeting with such breathy fondness, I nearly fall to my knees at her feet.

“Hello. You look beautiful tonight.”

Daisy blushes and the flowers in her hair bloom larger, daisies and a peony. She always looks like she’s wearing a crown of flowers, and it makes me want to buy her a real crown. The visible green markings on her neck and legs shift as she walks the last few steps and stops directly in front of me. I can see how that might have been troublesome in public school with humans and unable to glamour.

“Thank you. You look handsome as well.”

We stare at each other in silence, never breaking eye contact and I completely forget there are other people present until a voice breaks through our connection.

“Hi Kai, I’m Tobias. I know we’ve met in passing atUgly Mugbut it’s nice to formally meet you.”

I turn to face Tobias, a tall pale lavender skinned fairy with matching silver lavender wings, long white hair that’s pulled half up, and eyes so light they’re practically white. From his coloring alone I can tell he’s old. Probably close to a millennia. It doesn’t appear his years have dampened his disposition though.

Tobias smiles wide and sincere, extending his hand out for mine. I shake it and am happy he doesn’t do the normal male posturing of squeezing as hard as possible to try and assert dominance. He’s completely confident in himself that he doesn’t need to resort to rudimentary intimidation tactics. I instantly like him.

“Nice to meet you too.”

“Would you like something to drink?” he asks.

“Shouldn’t you be telling me what I need to drink?” I retort jokingly, knowing his affinity for telling customers what type of coffee they will order.

Tobias smiles and I can see I’ve already gotten on his good side.

“Touché. I’d say you could do with…a glass of red wine.”

“Sounds great.”

“Perfect.”

Tobias goes into the updated kitchen and pulls down a bottle from a built-in wine rack and begins to open it and pour four glasses.

“Tell me Kai,” Sage begins, while Daisy guides me to sit at the already set dining table. “How old are you?”

The question takes me by surprise. Age isn’t of great importance to non-humans since we live for so long and remain in our physical peak for most of our lives. To us ageisjust a number. Meaning nothing more than how much life experience you have.

Daisy sits in the chair next to me while Sage takes the one directly across from me, both waiting for my answer.

“Eighty-seven. Why?”

“Daisy is only twenty-three. She’s still young, even among non-humans. I just want to make sure you’re aware of that.”

Daisy’s age is no surprise to me. She’s obviously still young, but that doesn’t mean she’s not an adult.

“She’s also half-human and as such we don’t know how long her life expectancy will be. I don’t want her wasting her time.”

“Sage,” Daisy grumbles at my side, obviously embarrassed at her brother’s blatant discussion of her right in front of her.

Reaching under the table, I slide a hand over her knee and squeeze reassuringly. Her scowl at her brother immediately drops and turns to delight directed at me, and with that bolstering my confidence, I turn to face off with her protective big brother.

“I completely understand. I wouldn’t want to waste her time either. But if she’s willing to give me even a second of it, I’ll gladly accept it.”

Tobias enters and places a wine glass in front of each of us and takes one for himself, sitting in the seat next to Sage. Why do I feel like this is going to be a good cop, bad cop situation?

Before any more interrogation can take place, Delphi’s plump furry body bounds through an open window and lands directly in my lap.

“Hi friend! You’re here. You wanna see what I found?”