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Dorinda seemed equally shocked and relieved that River wasn’t about to scream at her, and she hurried into the back room.

Leaning against the counter, River took in the shop. It was stocked with every imaginable item, each coated in shimmering gold. There were knick-knacks and trinkets, cutlery, sustainable drinkware, and even a gilded mixing stand, for the Republic’s poshest bakers.

River wasn’t sure what Ryker had ordered for Brynleigh, but she was certain it would be perfect. If there was one thing she knew about her brother, it was that he took gift-giving very seriously.

To this day, Brynleigh still spoke warmly about the way Ryker had surprised her with specialty windows in their apartment, which allowed her to see the sun. Their new home was filled with the same ones, so Brynleigh would never have to go a day without the sun again.

“I’m sorry, miss, but it’s going to be a few more minutes.” Dorinda popped her head out of the door, looking harried. “I found the package, but it’s buried beneath several others. I need to get Horatio to move some things for me.”

If Tertia were here, she’d take this opportunity to make sure the Light Elf knew exactly how awful her failings were. She’d no doubt cause a scene and ruin Dorinda’s day. River had witnessed it happen many times.

But River was not her mother.

“It’s not a problem, Dorinda,” she replied, smiling compassionately at the other woman. “Take all the time you need. I’ll just browse.”

“Oh, thank you, miss. Thank you.”

Grateful that Ryker had asked her, and not their mother, to do this task, River smiled and made her way to the nearest shelf. She admired a few gilded ornaments before leafing through a history book about Golden City. She was putting it back when someone bumped into her arm.

“Oh, forgive me, I’m sorry.” The woman sounded chagrined.

“No problem.” River put the book back on the shelf. “I’m sure it wasn’t intentional—oh. I know you.”

The woman’s blue-black hair was cut into a sleek bob that framed her face, but a new haircut couldn’t hide the fact that this was the Chancellor’s only daughter.

River had seen her at enough events over the years to recognize her on sight, which made it strange when the woman’s eyes widened, and she shook her head.

“No, I’m sure you’re mistaken,” she said.

River frowned. “No, I’m not.” She might’ve had problems with punctuality, but she never forgot a face. Especially not this one. “Valentina Rose, right? You were on the Choosing with my brother, Ryker. ”

It was hard to forget the fire fae who had occupied some of her brother’s attentions before he Chose Brynleigh.

Valentina inhaled sharply, and silver lined her eyes. “Oh. I… I don’t like to think much about that time in my life.”

Because her Chosen partner had been brutally murdered the night of the Reunion. Right. Gods, River could be so stupid sometimes. She knew more than most how much it could hurt to have painful memories brought up out of the blue.

‘I’m sorry,” River said. “I didn’t think…”

“It’s okay, no one ever does.” A sad smile spread across the fire fae’s face, softening her features. “You’re River, right?”

There was something about the other fae that had an ache growing in River’s chest. She wasn’t sure whether it was the heaviness that surrounded her or the dark look in her eyes, but there was more to Valentina than she’d seen when watching the Choosing.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Vale.” The fire fae extended a hand. “After… well, I don’t go by that name anymore. It’s easier this way.”

Vale’s words were filled with so much pain and grief that River’s heart softened towards her. She knew the other woman hadn’t been kind to Brynleigh in the Choosing, but two years had passed since then. The fire fae had lost her husband in a traumatic way, and that kind of grief changed people.

River knew about that far too well.

“Nice to make your official acquaintance.” River shook Vale’s hand as Dorinda returned, carrying a package and waving to get her attention. “Ah, I think that’s mine.”

Vale smiled, adjusting the tote slung over her shoulder. Several cardboard children’s books stuck out of the top, and River wondered who they were for .

“I heard your brother and his wife are very happy,” Vale said.

“Please tell them I’m so happy to hear that.

” She shifted her grip on her bag. “I… I’m sorry for how I treated Brynleigh.

It was… well, there’s no excuse, really.

If I see her, I’ll apologize in person, but I don’t get out much these days. ”

The moment River agreed to pass on the message, Vale turned and fled the shop. River pondered the encounter as she picked up Ryker’s package and tucked it beneath her arm, making her way back to the car.

“Any other stops, Doctor Waterborn?” Davis asked as she slipped into the back seat.

“No, thank you.” River was nestled between a dozen bags and boxes as she clipped in her seat belt. “Let’s go back.”

“Of course.”

The engine hummed to life, and soon, they merged with traffic. River rested her chin on her fist, staring out the window. Golden City passed by in a blur, and she barely noticed the scenery.

She couldn’t get Vale out of her mind. The woman she’d just met seemed so different from the fire fae River had seen on television.

Valentina had been all hard edges with a fierce exterior, but Vale had been different. Full of grief. Broken. River was broken, too, so she was uniquely qualified to make that assessment. She knew better than most how a single event could so thoroughly alter the course of one’s life.

Her magic thrummed softly in her veins, as if it were also remembering how difficult the Incident had been. Right now, her curse wasn’t screaming. It wasn’t desperate for her attention. Right now, it was her companion as thoughts of grief and brokenness consumed her.

Memories of the pain she’d endured were a dark mist crawling over her mind, and she barely noticed the gates of Waterborn House opening to welcome them, barely heard the familiar crunch of gravel beneath the tires.

But what she did notice—what she would’ve had to be dead to ignore—was the older two-door tan sedan that pulled through the gates moments after them.

The engine cut, and as Davis opened the car door for River, a large man wearing a black T-shirt, jeans, and a leather jacket stepped out of the other vehicle.

Tattoos covered his neck, and he was holding a red leash in his right hand.

“Be good, Marlowe,” Atlas, Ryker’s other best friend, cautioned as the enormous dog leaped out of the car behind him.

Marlowe was Ryker and Brynleigh’s dog, but Atlas often looked after him. Being the good boy he was, Marlowe instantly obeyed. He plopped his bottom on the ground, his tail wagging violently back and forth.

Atlas reached down, petting the dog’s head and murmuring praise.

The earth fae was a professor at the University of Balance, not that one could tell by looking at him.

His neck and arms were covered in colorful ink, and the glasses perched on his nose were the only things keeping him from looking like he’d fit in with a motorcycle gang.

“Hi, River,” Atlas called out.

“Hey…” River’s words dried up as the passenger door opened and Nikhail stepped out of the car. His back was to her, but it didn’t matter. Had it only been a few weeks since she’d last seen him? It felt like years.

Gods above. How did he always manage to look so good ?

His black hair glimmered in the late-afternoon sunlight, like a raven’s sleek coat, his shoes were polished, and a three-piece, impeccably tailored dove grey suit adorned his body. The air fae was all power and grace, and warmth hit River’s navel like a dart as she drank in the sight of him.

She’d say Nikhail cleaned up well, but this was his natural state. Put together. Strong. Way too good for a woman who was cursed.

And then, he turned around. Amber eyes landed on hers, stealing her breath. She couldn’t move; she could barely think.

Being the center of Nikhail’s focus was everything .

He studied her like she was a rare piece of art, and he was a collector who had waited a lifetime to see her.

She’d be lying if she said the way he looked at her didn’t set her core on fire.

He looked at her like she was the only thing in the world he cared about, like she was precious and beautiful and strong.

In another world, where River wasn’t fated to spend the rest of her life alone, she’d delight in being the center of Nikhail’s attention. She’d never grow weary of it, never grow tired of feeling like she was the only thing that mattered in his world.

How could she when he made her feel like this?

Seconds that felt like hours passed before Marlowe barked, the sound shattering the moment. River shook her head, pulling her gaze away from Nikhail. She shouldn’t be looking at him at all or imagining a life with him.

They still had to talk, and once she made him understand the depths of her curse, she was certain he’d leave. It was the only smart thing to do. The night in the solarium would become a treasured memory, nothing more.

Atlas coughed, his knowing eyes sliding between the two of them. The knowledge that he’d just witnessed… whatever that was, had River’s cheeks blazing and her magic swirling in her veins.

She mumbled a greeting, waving awkwardly before bolting up the stairs and through the front doors. She shouldn’t have done that, shouldn’t have let herself drown in Nikhail’s gaze. In the end, it didn’t matter how handsome he was, nor did it matter how he made her feel.

She was cursed, and she would always be alone.

That was how it had to be.