Page 8

“Yes, I’m alone. My family owns some land nearby and I needed some air. Went for a walk and stumbled upon you.” I keep my hands loose at my side in as unthreatening a pose as possible.

This time her posture relaxes, and she appears to hear the truth in my words.

“Oh. Are you part of the Kingsley family?”

It doesn’t sound like she’s judging me for my family, just simply curious.

“Yes. My parents own the land and house. I’m just in town for the equinox celebration. And yourself? Are you a local?”

She pinches her lips together before answering, almost as if she doesn’t want to tell me. The blossoms in her hair shift again. The tiny purple star blooms and sunflowers change to what look like irises and white peonies.

Why are the flowers in her hair changing?

“I’m Daisy. I live just on the other side of your family’s land. My brother and I run the local flower nursery and gardens there.”

“Daisy.” I roll her name across my tongue, and it suits her. Suits the little blossom of a female in front of me. “It’s nice to meet you, Daisy. And who might your friend be?”

I turn my attention to the sprite in her arms, who doesn’t seem to want to rip out my eyes and bite me anymore. It’s watching me with curious ebony eyes that shine with the magic inside.

“This is Delphinium. Delphi for short. She’s my friend.”

“It’s nice to meet you Delphi.”

The sprite, Delphi, cocks her head at me and chirps.

“Are you friend?”

“Yes. I am a friend.”

Delphi extricates her little body from Daisy’s hold and, using her abilities, hops through the air, bouncing off invisible bubbles until she lands on my shoulder. Scurrying up to my head she settles between my curved horns. I can feel her tiny little hands gently hold them like handles.

“I like your horns, and your hair. You smell nice. I like you. You can be Delphi’s friend. And Daisy’s.”

A deep chuckle bursts from my lips and I watch Daisy, who is watching Delphi with open curiosity. I can only imagine how I look with the sprite on my head using my horns as handlebars.

“Well thank you Delphi. I like you too.”

“You can understand her?” Daisy steps closer to us, and the scent of wildflowers and fresh cut grass washes over me. It’s intriguing.

I suck in a lungful of the scent, categorizing it in my mind as hers and find that I like it. It makes the fire in my chest burn hotter.

“Yes,” I answer in a voice I don’t think I’ve ever heard from my lips. “As an animal nymph, it’s one of my natural abilities. Sprites are easier to talk to than some lesser intelligent animals, like squirrels. They are annoyingly illiterate.”

Daisy smiles and bites her bottom lip, probably to stop herself from laughing. The flowers in her hair change once again, the peonies remain but the irises are replaced with multicolored carnations. The way they change so frequently throughout our conversation is fascinating.

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never talked to a squirrel before.”

“Don’t waste your time. They’re dim witted and only care about finding and storing nuts. The conversation gets quite boring very quickly.”

Then, she does laugh. Her face lighting up with mirth.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“So, what’s a pretty little blossom like you doing way out here? And shoeless?” Pointedly I look down at her bare feet. The falling leaves and light underbrush covering the forest floor don’t seem to bother her in the least.

Her toes curl into the ground as she fidgets, still holding the pink dinosaur mug in her hands, and before she even speaks, I can hear her shyness.

“I was checking on Delphi’s nest before winter sets in. I wanted to make sure it was sturdy and ready for the snow.”