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“Hi Delphi. I would love to see what you found.”

“Look, look.”

Delphi reaches into her fur, most likely having a pocket like a kangaroo, and produces a neon orange golf ball. Holding it up in her little hand, she pushes it into my face for inspection.

“See? See? So bright and pretty. Like tiny sun.”

“Oh yes, that’s very lovely. I think it’ll go well with your nest. Don’t you?”

Delphi falls into a long-winded one-sided discussion over the best place to put it in her nest, and I look up to find Tobias grinning and Sage glaring suspiciously at me.

“You can understand her?” he asks.

“Yes. She’s quite chatty. I met her when I first met Daisy.”

“Howdidyou meet Daisy? I’m curious how the two of you crossed paths and ended up here.”

How we met isn’t anything dubious, but Sage may question my intentions out in the woods alone. Confessing my original plans for Daisy feels dirty and deceitful, especially since my feelings for her have changed so drastically.

“My brother just arrived in town to prepare the house for my family’s arrival and was threatening me with cleaning duties. So instead, I escaped out the back and went for a walk in the woods. I heard Delphi and Daisy talking and followed the sound, finding them inspecting Delphi’s hoard and nest.”

Sage cocks a brow at me. “And you just thought, wow what a great opportunity to flirt with a pretty girl?”

“Basically, yeah. I’m not going to lie. If I see a pretty girl and want to talk to her, I usually do. I’m not a shy person.”

“Now that you’re with my sister, are you going to continue to talk to unknown pretty girls in the woods?”

His question instantly offends me. I understand his protectiveness of Daisy but am insulted he would think I would ever do such a thing to her.

“No. I told you I wouldn’t hurt her, and that includes emotionally. Being with Daisy is a gift that I don’t intend on squandering.”

“Delphi likes Kai. Wants Kai to stay, play with Delphi. Know you speak true. Like Daisy a lot.”

I wish the others could understand Delphi. Sprites don’t lie, they sense things within others we can’t even fathom. To have a sprite speak highly of me in such a warm way would definitely prove to Sage I have no ill intentions with his sister.

That may have been my initial motivation, but how we came together means nothing now that we’re here. Now that my feelings are progressing towards something real. I know Daisy’s are true. She would never feign attraction and affection just to lead a person on. She’s too pure for that. She acts on instinct, there’s nothing fake about her.

“I think Delphi approves of him,” Daisy states softly, while petting Delphi’s colorful fur. “And if she approves of him, maybe you can too?”

Daisy looks to her brother and his mate. Tobias has already accepted me, I can tell. Sage is the hold out, still wanting to hold on to his preconception of me and finding less and less to do so.

“Fine. I suppose if Delphi likes him, I can give him a chance.”

“Thank you, Sage.”

Sage smiles at his sister and lets out a loud exhale, his posture relaxing.

“Well, now that that’s done. Would anyone like an appetizer? I made stuffed mushrooms.”

Daisy hums in delight and excitedly helps Tobias bring over the couple plates laden with vegetarian appetizers. Noticing the obvious lack of meat, I wonder if this is the norm or if Sage wanted to test me again to see how I would react.

I dig into the offered bites and happily devour the delicious food. There doesn’t have to be meat included in a dish for it to be good, and I’m pretty sure I see Sage’s lips twitch with approval.

~Daisy~

Dinner goes surprisingly well. After Sage’s initial harshness, he eases up and we’re able to have a pleasant evening. By the end of the night everyone is joking and laughing like old friends. Kai is more relaxed, draping an arm over the back of my chair and remaining physically close to me.

After dessert and an elongated play time with Delphi and her golf ball, Kai asks if we can go for a walk before he heads home. I offer to walk him home but he says he doesn’t want me walking back alone in the dark. It’s nothing I haven’t done before but Kai refuses, stating a walk through our gardens and greenhouse is more than sufficient.