We met in the alley behind the inn two hours later, after Liora had retired to her room with a headache. Pearl said it with a perfectly straight face when she knocked on my door. "Poor thing is just exhausted from all the attention."
Now we stood in the narrow space between buildings, the same spot where Malachi had cast his protective circle days ago. The stones still held faint traces of his magic, a warmth that pulsed under my boots.
Kai arrived first, alone, and the grin on his face told me everything before he even opened his mouth.
"So," he said. "Turns out being enchanted is really fun when you're faking it."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Nothing terrible. Just, you know. Devoted things."
Des showed up thirty seconds later, slightly out of breath, and Pearl came last, still wearing that dreamy expression until she was sure we were alone. Then her face cleared and she laughed, sharp and delighted.
"Tell them," she said to Kai. "Tell them about the flowers."
