That it’shimwho makes my stomach flutter and heart leap.
That it’shimI dream of at night.
Based on her assessment of soulmates, I should be proposing to Everett.
* * *
On our way into town, we end up running into Ronan and Nolan near the city fountain.
The prince beams, and although I find myself returning his smile, my heart does not leap and my stomach does not flutter, not even when he nudges my shoulder with his and invites me to visit the castle the following morning.
The prospect doesn’t sound as enticing as it might’ve in the past. What is wrong with me?
Ronan raises his brows, his gaze imploring.
Right. His invitation. “I would like that very much,” I say, telling myself that it’s true.
The prince’s chest puffs out, and his gaze traces my face, landing on the flower behind my ear. “This is beautiful. I’ve never seen one quite that shade.”
“Very funny.”
His brow furrows. “Why is that funny?”
Is he serious? “It’s from your gardens, Ronan. You left it for me this morning.”
His eyes widen and he presses a hand to his forehead. “Oh. Yes. Yes, of course it is. How silly of me to have forgotten.”
I step back, studying his face, noting the way he refuses to meet my gaze.
He’s lying.
Why though? It’s only a flower. Why would he take the credit when it wasn’t from him? Have the flowers been from Trevor this whole time?
When Ronan asks if we’d like company at the cafe, Nia says yes before I can tell him no, so it looks like I’m stuck with the prince.
Not exactly the sentiment of a woman on the verge of proposing.
Nia and Nolan’s joined hands swing between them, the pair grinning like lovesick teenagers at one another. I pretend not to notice when Ronan reaches for mine and tuck my hand into the pockets sewn into my skirts instead. His shoulders slump, but he quickly recovers, regaling us with a story about seeing lions.
He’s probably lying.
Am I overreacting about this? It’s only a flower, after all.
If he’s willing to lie about something so small, will he tell the truth about the bigger things? The ones that truly matter?
The balmy breeze flutters the petals of the flower behind my ear, tickling my cheek. My yearning for dessert has evaporated altogether. Perhaps I should skip the café and visit Trevor instead.
You know what? That’s exactly what I’m going to do.
When we pass the library, I tell Nia I’ll meet her in a few minutes.
“Where are you going?” Ronan calls at my back.
“To see if Trevor would like to join us,” I throw over my shoulder. It might make me a bad person, but I delight in the way the prince scoffs. Serves him right after playing me false.
I skirt around two women pushing prams and slip between the library’s open doors. The familiar scent of ink, musty parchment, and worn leather fills my lungs, dampening my ire.
Never in my life have I seen shelves this high. With the way the shadows cling to the vaulted ceiling, you can barely see the tops. There are more books in this place than a fae could hope to read in ten lifetimes.