“By the way,” Paavak lowers his voice, giving me a serious look, “do you have any more of the goods?”
“It’s not a secret! Books are meant to be shared.” I can’t help but laugh, then quickly run to the table and grab the books I set aside for them.
The three of us have been on a romantic book trend, even verging on the scandalous kind. Hey, if I could get Astrid and Marigold in on this, I might have more luck with a book club here than in Orca Cove.
It started by finding books that would help us plan the ball, but as I got talking with each member of the staff, discovering their likes and dislikes, I slipped other books in too. Most were guesses based on the synopsis, because I hadn’t had time to get that much fae reading done. But there were quite a few human books in the library. None from the last twenty-five years, of course, but some classics I recognized.
Once word got around I was handing out books, staff started coming to me, asking for recommendations. I even had to start a little tally sheet with books out, so I didn’t misplace any. Fae librarian Rosalina at your service!
I hand Paavak the book and he gives a little yip of excitement that sounds awfully like the small dog he turns into at night.
“I haven’t read these two yet, so you’ll have to let me know how they are,” I tell them.
Mandaria looks at the back of her book, reading out loud: “Far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, and a prince in disguise? Sounds like a perfect read.”
“Only one prince?” I give a little wink at Farron. “Sounds dull.”
I wave goodbye to both event coordinators and feel Farron approach from behind. “You’ve made quite the impression on the staff, Rosalina.”
I turn to face him, but he doesn’t back up, leaving us chest to chest. “I’m just trying to help.”
He tilts his head. “You’re doing more than that. In the last few months, it’s like a light has returned to Castletree. You’ve brought hope and purpose again. And it’s not only the staff; it’s us as well.”
“I’ve hardly—” I try to back up, but he cages me with his arms.
“Don’t be so modest. Before you came, it was different,” Farron says. “Ez eating meals with us? That’s new. Keldarion comes out of his room. I swear there were some months I didn’t see him at all. And you may not believe this, but Dayton has been drinking less. Well, a bit.”
A sudden awkwardness fills me at the mention of Dayton’s name. It’s a topic I’ve been avoiding with Farron the last few weeks. Guilt simmers in me.
“About Dayton,” I whisper. “I’ve been meaning to say this for a while, but every time, I’ve chickened out. I’m sorry I kissed him. You two have something and—”
Farron cups the back of my head. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Rosalina. It’s not like that between Dayton and I.”
“But you were jealous when he brought that fae woman to Castletree. I saw it, and when I kissed him—”
“Not just kissed him.” Farron’s voice drops a pitch, but not in anger. Another emotion swells. “You were in his arms, moving with him.”
“I’m sorry—” I blurt out and try to push away from him, but he doesn’t let me. Instead, he presses me back against the bookshelf. It wobbles, volumes flying down around us.
“I already told you, Rosalina.” Command ripples in his voice, stern and urgent. A darkness I forget he possesses behind that sweet smile. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
My hair slides out of my bun and falls around my face.
“Watching you come apart in Dayton’s arms was the fucking most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
My breath comes out in heady gasps, my chest brushing against his.
“In fact, if Ez hadn’t been there, I would have watched you more.” He dips his lips to my ear. “So now we’re even, huh?”
A startled gasp escapes my mouth.When I watched him.Heat tightens in my core. “Actually,” I say, “to truly be even, Dayton would have to walk in on us—”
My words cut off as my brain catches up to what I’m saying.
But Farron’s whole body stiffens. He grips the bookshelf hard on the side of my head, veins in his arms standing out. “Dayton wouldn’t act like us if he walked in. The man has no self-control. He’d—”
“Join,” I whisper, remembering what he’d said in the Summer Realm.
Farron’s hand slides from the back of my head to brush the top of my chest. “Rosie, you can’t say these things.”