Page 24 of Pocket Full Of Posies (Snowberry #2)

Sharp rays of sunlight streaming in through the tent’s venting hole in the ceiling, wake me far earlier than I want. But the view of Daisy sleeping naked and halfway on top of me is worth it. I’d wake up at dawn every day if this is the view I get to wake up to.

Her dark hair is strewn across my red and pale skin, a contradiction in tone but fitting perfectly somehow. Pulling the blanket up to cover her bare backside I linger at her shoulders. Running feather light fingers over her tan skin and green filigree markings. In her sleep they’re still and motionless.

Daisy is the most divine creature I’ve ever encountered and when I told her I was never leaving I wasn’t lying. Until the day she forces me to leave or leaves with me, I’m not going anywhere.

I wonder what kind of ring she would like if I were to propose to her like the humans do? Because I’m going to need to bond with her as soon as she’s willing. I’m not letting her go and I’m definitely not going to let some other male steal her from me. From the outside it may not seem like it, but I think Daisy and I were made for each other. Two different pieces of a puzzle that when put together make a perfect picture.

A cool breeze drifts in from the open venting hole and goosebumps prickle on Daisy’s skin. I pull the blanket higher and increase my body temperature to warm her. Spotting the bathtub in the corner I think Daisy might like to bathe after yesterday and last night. I myself wouldn’t mind freshening up.

As delicately as possible I slip free from under Daisy and slip on a pair of pants before setting off to obtain what I require. It takes me less than five minutes to return with a tray of food and drinks that I set on the low table before walking over to the water filled tub. The water has been there since yesterday and is now cold. I dip a hand into the chilled water and heat it to the perfect temperature before waking Daisy.

She’s the cutest thing first thing in the morning. She’s normally a morning person but apparently, I exhausted her last night because she’s all sleepy eyed and yawning as I carry her to the tub. I use my tail to pull my pants off and step into the tub with Daisy still cradled in my arms, settling her between my legs and against my chest in the warm water.

The tub is plenty large enough for two and we fit comfortably. I languidly wash Daisy until she’s completely awake then assist in detangling her hair and washing it. She then insists on washing mine, which I admit is wonderful.

“Do we have any plans for today? The celebration doesn’t officially end till sunset, right?” she asks once we’re both washed and relaxing back in the soapy water.

“That’s right. I hadn’t planned anything other than spending all day with you. Most of it I’d be happy remaining right here in this tub. I can keep the water warm indefinitely, so we’d never get cold or need to leave.”

“What about food? We need to eat.”

I smirk because she thinks I didn’t already consider that. Gesturing a hand towards the low table I draw her attention to the tray laden with food she hadn’t noticed.

“Already taken care of. We have plenty of food and drink for the day. I can hand feed you and we never have to put clothes on.”

Daisy laughs and turns her head up, sparkling emerald eyes smiling up at me. So many moments in the past I felt life was all it was going to be, that the hidden hole inside me would remain so until the end of time. Looking into Daisy’s bottomless green eyes I can feel that hole filling in sealing over. I’m finally where I’m supposed to be. Finally, I’ve found my place in this world and it’s not what I expected, but everything I ever wanted.

Stealing a kiss from the love of my life, I take Daisy by surprise, but she soon melts against my mouth accepting all that I give and giving all that I need.

Everything is perfect inside our secluded tent, away from the rest of the world. Away from our families and nosey neighbors. Here it’s just us, and that’s all that matters. That’s all I need.

~Daisy~

If I would have let him, Kai would have kept me in that bathtub indefinitely. Thankfully I was able to convince him we needed to get out after two hours because my skin was pruning and the flowers in my hair were wilting from the steam and over watering. He tried to argue that you couldn’t over water a flower, which he quickly learned was very possible. As soon as the first plumeria fell from my hair, wilty and sad, he conceded to exiting the tub.

It took even more convincing to get him to put on pants and leave the tent. To my great surprise, I was the one who wanted to get out and socialize. Finding my brother and Tobias, playing with Delphi and her new sprite friends she brought along. Returning the scarf she stole from someone’s tent.

The day was going well. It isn’t until midafternoon that Kai’s family sends Keiko to retrieve him to speak with his parents. We have successfully avoided them until this point. Only speaking briefly with Keiko or Endo. Apparently, his mother has grown tired of waiting. She requested both me and Kai, but he wouldn’t allow it, and honestly, I am fine not going. I tried to befriend her at the party and learned quickly that would never be happening.

While Kai follows Keiko toward his parent’s tent and private garden area, I go in the opposite direction and find a quiet place by the stream to sit and wait. I’ve barely been here a few minutes when a body appears at my side, looming over me.

“Where’s Kai? I assumed you would have kept him hidden away in your tent.”

Great, just who I wanted to see. Nysa, Kai’s ex-lover and his mother’s favorit e _ apparentl y _ stands over me. She doesn’t sit. I think she likes looking down on me. Wouldn’t be the first time a full-blooded snob thought she was better than me.

In the past it would have bothered me. Her status and confidence would have made me retreat into myself and let her say whatever she wanted, which usually only made me feel worse. Now though, something in me has changed. I don’t feel as threatened as I once would have, I don’t feel the need to hide or apologize for nothing. Her pure blood and higher stance don’t concern me anymore.

“Kai’s with his parents. And, not that it’s your business, but he was the one who wanted to stay naked in bed in our tent today. I was the one who convinced him to leave. For a little while anyways.”

I guess I’m a tad sassy now too. Rubbing it in that I got the guy, and she didn’t, is a little petty but I just couldn’t help myself. Kai must be rubbing off on me.

“I suppose you can have your fun. It won’t last long.”

Nysa’s flippant, and far too confident, statement has me faltering. Mainly because of the certainty in her tone. I look up to her, wanting to gage her expression. She looks smug. As if she knows something I don’t. Which makes no sense. I just asked Kai about him leaving last night and he said he wasn’t going anywhere. He was speaking the truth, I could hear it in his voice. I would know if he were lying.

Wanting to get somewhat closer to her level for this conversation, I stand, although still not eye to eye with her.

“What do you mean? How would you know anything about us?”

The corner of her mouth pulls into a cruel expression I don’t like.

“You may think everything is perfect and you and Kai will be together and live happily ever after. But the truth is, you’re just a pit stop on his journey. Someone like Kai wouldn’t bond with someone like you. He’s only using you for a little fun. A plaything to work out his fantasies before settling with someone proper for his station.”

Nysa’s words are sharp and dry, grinding against my skin like sandpaper until it wears down my flesh to bone. I want to argue, to call her a liar and prove that Kai’s past is just that. That now he wants to be with me and only me. Forever. But I can’t. She’s not lying. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth and my protests sink to the pit of my stomach.

“He was never going to stay with you. He never even wanted you to begin with. He was only using you to stop his mother from announcing our bonding. You are just a passing fling to work out his wanderlust. Eventually he will tire of you and move on like he always has.

“If he decides he wants to keep you as a mistress, I have no objections to it. Many mated males have side pieces. I can’t be expected to entertain all his sexual desires. All I require is the appropriate number of heirs and the status of being a Kingsley. What he does in his spare time is his problem.”

Nysa flits her hand at me like a servant while my brain spins trying to keep up with all her allegations. Most of it just sounds preposterous. Kai would never do such a thing to me. Then again, I’ve known from the beginning he was not the settling down type, was even warned numerous times about him and his “ways . ” But I ignored them. I wanted to learn for myself what kind of male he was without judging him based on gossip. Turns out I should have paid more attention. Nysa’s allegations ring true. Her words hold no deceit. A lot of bitterness and cruelty but no lies. She believes what she’s saying.

“What do you mean he never wanted me? He was just using me?”

“Oh honey, you don’t think he really chose you, do you? He found out about his mother arranging our bonding and panicked. He isn’t ready yet and needed a na?ve little girl to use as a fake mate to try and delay our bonding. He was never intending to stay with you. It was always temporary. If you don’t believe me, ask his brother. He knew all about it.”

Wait, what? Endo knew about this? But he’s my friend, he acted like he was happy for us. This is all so confusing.

“Oh, look there’s Endo now. Go ahead, ask him. You’ll see.”

With a flare of her wings and swing of her hair, Nysa spins and walks away leaving me open mouthed and heart lodged between my ribs. She has to be wrong, must have heard something and misinterpreted. She, like Kai’s mother, doesn’t approve of us and wants to get rid of me and place herself in their family. It’s just more games high society people like her like to play. Right?

I’ll ask Endo and he’ll put her right. He’ll tell me she’s mistaken and nothing she said was accurate and Kai would never bond with her.

I turn in the direction she indicated and indeed find Endo stalking towards me, frowning at Nysa’s receding back. His expression of derision and disapproval at Nysa is reassuring. He’ll tell me the truth, and everything will be fine. Everything will go back to what it was, and me and Kai will enjoy the rest of the festival as we planned.

“What was she doing here?” Endo asks when he reaches me, still standing rooted in place by the stream’s bank.

The relaxing sound of water bubbling over stones and down inclines does nothing to soothe my nerves. Not until I hear him negate her claims.

“She told me Kai is only with me to use me as a shield from his mother’s plans for him to bond with her. That he never truly intended to be with me. That it was all fake.”

Where I expect Endo to adamantly deny her outrageous allegations, I’m only greeted with silence. His mouth dropping open and snapping shut, copper brow pinching with indecision. Like he isn’t sure what he should say. His eyes shift between mine and away then back. The longer he remains silent the more I realize it’s because she wasn’t wrong. He doesn’t want to confirm, but he also can’t deny her words.

Kai didn’t want me . At least not me specifically, he just needed a female, any female, to fulfill his scheme. And my heart shrivels and bursts simultaneously.

“She’s right, isn’t she?” I ask in a soft whisper.

“Not completely. But it’s not how she makes it out to be. In the beginning maybe, yes, he was just looking for a female for not so honorable reasons. But you’re different Daisy. Things changed. He really does love you, I swear. Whatever else she told you is false. You can’t listen to her poison. Females like her and my mother thrive on hurting others to get what they want. Don’t let her manipulate you.”

Endo is reaching for my arm and trying to plead with me. I want to believe him, but I don’t know what’s true anymore. Even being able to hear lies in someone's words there are ways around it. Nymph’s have learned ways to word things to keep from outright lying but still skirting the truth. I thought Kai wanted me from the beginning. How much of it was fake? How much of it was for show? Do I even really know him? He said he loved me. He wasn’t lying about that, which only makes this more confusing.

“Let me get Kai and you two can talk. Okay? You’ll see, just stay here, and don’t move. I’m going to get Kai and we’ll straighten this all out.”

Endo jogs away and as soon as he has his back turned to me, I know I can’t stay. I need to leave. Return to my safe space at home in my gardens. The only place I was ever happy. My refuge. Refuge that has now been tainted by Kai. It’s where we’ve spent most of our time together and it’s all so fresh and raw. I can’t be there, no matter how much I want to.

If I stay it’ll cause a scene. People will talk, they’ll stare and put blame on me, the half-breed . No. I don’t want that. So, I leave. Running in the opposite direction of everyone. Away from the music and laughter of the festival, toward the quiet empty forest. Just for a little while. Until I can think straight, until I can figure out what’s real, if anything was real.

Maybe this will be what finally gets me to leave town. If I go somewhere with more humans than non-humans, perhaps I can finally have a normal life.

The grass and leaves crunch beneath my bare feet as I run through the trees, seeking a new refuge and new place to hide where nothing and no one can find me.