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15

Vincent

I was feeling too comfortable.

This meal with Luna was too easy to fall into.

I could almost imagine we were on a first date, following our cute meeting in the moat outside Parkview Tavern.

Almost.

She spoke of her job at the tavern, of her friends and their favorite regulars.

The owner, Seraphina, had all but required her to try to save the inn, even if it put her in a tough spot with their customers.

I couldn’t think of anyone who would put my needs above their own in such a way.

Skye, I guess, but I wasn’t sure my sister counted.

I learned Luna baked regularly.

She had an addiction to bread and dough that had to be fed every day.

It didn’t make sense to me, but her passion for it made me wish I had something to add to the conversation.

I told her my favorite way to start the day was a walk in the park.

Her head tilted slightly when I said as much, but she didn’t press on the fact that the park wasn’t exactly close enough to Andiveron House for an easy morning stroll.

It was too easy to be myself with her.

I shared how, for the weeks approaching Long Night, I loved going back to the park in the evenings to watch the stars, waiting for the last full moon of the year.

She liked that, her smile lighting up her face.

I’d known she would.

She said she watched the sky regularly from the inn’s private beach.

She was trying to distance us this evening, first by having us meet at the tavern and then with our discussion of the bargain.

I knew her decision was wise, but I found myself wishing to ignore it.

I’d been content when we seemingly broke past the guard posts she’d put in place.

I could tell she was about to ask me something I wouldn’t like.

We’d covered as many surface-level topics as possible, and it was companionable, but I could admit I also wanted to know more about her.

“What do you do for Long Night? Does your family or another wind fae family host a party?”

There it was.

We were back, circling topics I’d rather not.

“My parents host a party.” It was hardly a secret.

The secret was that I hadn’t attended in years.

Everyone still thought I did, but it was easy enough with the crowd of old fae there to assume they missed me.

“I think there is one prominent family for each court in the city that hosts something. Those at Compass Lake might be breaking down barriers between the courts, but I believe they are still very much intact here.”

She nodded.

It couldn’t surprise her, given how her father still treated her.

I tracked her tongue as it licked her lips.

A nervous habit, I thought.

She wanted to ask me something else.

I set down my fork and gestured for her to go ahead.

“Ask.” I took a sip of my drink and wondered what it would be.

Her lip quirked up into a smirk.

“Why aren’t you…more like that? ”

I choked on the wine, covering my mouth quickly to hide the unseemly noise before other guests noticed.

Too late—a few heads had turned at my outburst.

“What a nice question, Luna. So, you’re saying I’m not a pretentious ass too stuck in my ways to notice the world around me is changing? That maybe people shouldn’t be valued based solely on their magic and court affiliations?”

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t recant.

“Yes, that’s my question.”

I laughed again, though, as I did, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I had the distinct feeling we were being watched.

Her candor was intoxicating, and I decided I didn’t care who witnessed as I gulped it down.

I’d regret that later, but for now, I responded.

“I think I had good examples?—”

The rest of my sentence was cut off as the last people I expected stood beside the table.

“Vincent, we didn’t realize you were here,” my mother said.

In all their finery, my parents looked down their noses at us.

It was not all that unusual, given how they approached most situations, but I certainly hadn’t expected to find them here when I was out with Luna.

Mother’s gaze raked over Luna’s outfit, her nose scrunching in distaste.

I didn’t know why.

Luna’s dress fit perfectly with all old fae standards.

I wished Luna had worn something she felt more comfortable in, but I knew this whole clothing debacle was my fault.

Luna noticed Mother’s appraisal too, and I hated it as she glanced at her plate.

How could they be here?

This was such bad luck.

I tried to meet Luna’s gaze, to tell her…

something, but she was clearly embarrassed by Mother’s stare.

I was horrified but also wanted to give way to the giggle building in my throat.

I’d been about to say I’d had the perfect examples of what not to be in my parents, a topic I was sure I hadn’t broached with anyone, ever.

And now, here they were.

Now, we had to face them .

I had no idea what to tell them about Luna.

“Vincent,” my father said.

He and I looked very similar; I’d been told so for as long as I could remember.

His dark brown hair was thick around his face.

I knew he spent a great deal of time taming his wild waves.

I’d given up on that when I moved out of Andiveron House.

Luna reaching across the table to brush some from my face tonight was proof enough that I’d made the right decision.

Father’s dark brown eyes were the same as my own.

Even our clothing styles seemed to match.

We both wore white shirts under long, dark brown jackets.

The main difference was my jacket had more gold embellishments.

I liked that differentiator.

It reminded me of Luna’s wonderfully obnoxious outfits.

At the thought of her, my gaze returned to her worried face.

“Hi, Mother, Father, this is Luna.” I hesitated over her surname.

The softening of the worry lines on her brow told me she appreciated the gesture.

They barely glanced in her direction as the server returned to gather our empty plates.

“Yes,” Father said, dismissing her.

“We looked for you at the paper this morning and you weren’t around. I wanted to check on your upcoming feature.”

I put forth my practiced smile and replied, “We’ll need to talk about it some other time, Father. As you can see…” I gestured again to Luna.

“I’m occupied at the moment.”

“I’m sure she understands,” Father continued, not even bothering to address the comment to Luna.

“You’re an important male with responsibilities. That is simply the way of things. She may not understand the requirements of an old fae family, but I’m sure she respects them.”

I stood, pushing my chair back a little louder than I intended.

“Father.” My whole body flushed.

Had it been only moments ago that Luna considered me nothing like this kind of old fae?

After this display, I was reasonably confident her attitude about me would change.

I wouldn’t even be upset if she decided not to continue with our bargain.

“That’s incredibly rude. Luna’s time is just as valuable as mine, and I won’t allow you to disrespect it.”

I pulled out some coin and left it on the table.

We were foregoing dessert, which was usually my favorite treat here, but it couldn’t be helped.

I offered my hand to Luna; she stood with me, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.

“Vincent,” my mother cut in.

“He only meant that we don’t know your friend. We’re sure she’s nice”—her nostrils flared—“but she’s not exactly serious relationship material.”

“Mother,” I hissed, “you are completely out of line.”

Luna’s face was as white as a sheet.

This was so much worse than the pink that bloomed on her cheeks when she was embarrassed.

I realized too late that my hand was still outstretched for her.

I was sure she had no interest in taking it, given Mother’s last comment.

Not wanting to embarrass her or myself further, I pulled it back.

She snatched it before it got too far away.

“I’d like to leave,” she said steadily.

My heart kicked in my chest.

“So would I.”

Before we took a step, wind blew through our alcove, and the wine glasses on our table fell to the floor, shattering.

This was officially a disaster.

I couldn’t believe my parents would do such a thing, but I was sure the wind wasn’t natural, or mine.

Father’s face was red.

My bet was on him being the culprit.

Mother squeezed his hand.

“Vincent, don’t make a scene.”

Luna glanced at me with confusion.

I imagined she knew my wind well enough by now to realize that wasn’t me.

“You already have,” I whispered.

“We’ll leave you to it.”

Hands clasped, we wound our way through the maze of tables as quickly as we dared, trying to get as far from my parents as we could in as little time as possible.

I wasn’t sure what to say to Luna once we were clear of the restaurant.

How many ways could I say I was sorry?

How could I explain what I’d been about to say before they arrived?

I’d only look like a liar now.

She’d never believe I had intended to tell her their behavior had embarrassed me my entire life.

I took a deep breath as we pushed through the doors.

At some point, she’d taken the lead, pulling me—probably when I’d lost track of how precisely to get away.

Now that I watched her, though, I saw that wasn’t quite right.

Was she limping?

The air was cool against my heated skin.

I had opened my mouth to say something, unsure, when I realized what had happened.

“My gods, Luna, your foot is bleeding. Did you step on the glass?”

She peered down.

“Yes, I’m so stupid. I forgot I wore these flimsy slippers instead of my usual boots.” She shook her head.

“I didn’t even think.”

“Absolutely none of this is your fault,” I said, my anger at my parents falling away as I realized she must still have glass stuck in her foot.

I looked around.

We were in Central Circle.

I needed somewhere to remove the glass and clean the wound.

Unfortunately, there was only one location that made sense.

“We can go to my place. I can clean it and wrap it there.”

She nodded.

I wasn’t sure that was consent for what my wind did next, but she didn’t object as it swept her into my arms.

“This is a little much.” Her laugh unknotted something in my chest.

I shrugged as I started walking.

“Maybe, but you’re entitled to hazard treatment after that experience.” My head tilted back toward the restaurant.

“That wasn’t your fault,” she said, but I was already shaking my head.

“I’m so sorry for their behavior. I’ll get this out of your foot, and then I’ll understand if you never want to speak to me again.”

Her hand wrapped around a fold of my jacket as I walked.

We were almost there, but she pulled on the fabric, demanding my attention.

I glanced down at the beautiful woman in my arms.

“They are not you, Vincent. Don’t you remember what I asked you right before they arrived?” I stopped walking, her blue eyes demanding I meet them.

I was going to run us into a building being this distracted.

“I know…but that was before…”

“Before what?” she pressed.

“Before your parents made asses of themselves? I, more than anyone, know that children aren’t their parents.”

I hated that example but knew she meant it.

Freeing myself from her gaze, I started walking again.

“We’re almost there, and then I can have the glass out momentarily,” I said, ignoring her comment.

“Where...” she didn’t finish the question, but I knew what she was asking.

I sucked in a breath.

It was too late, now, to change my mind.

I wouldn’t have her walk home with glass in her foot.

“This is my apartment.” I glanced down briefly before walking up the steps to the front door.

Her eyes widened in understanding.

“You don’t live in Andiveron House,” she said, now understanding what I’d shared about my morning walks during our meal.

My lips pressed into a thin smile, and I opened the door, letting my first-ever guest into my home.