Page 39 of The Warlock's Kiss

“This is a garden, Daniel. The sort of place from which a marketreceivesits goods,” Merrick said. “And you may now consider yourself a farmer.”

“I’m hungry just looking at it all.”

Adalynn laughed. “You’re always hungry. And youjustate.”

Danny grinned and rubbed his stomach before flexing his arms. “I’m a growing boy, sis. Gotta get my manly muscles somehow.”

Merrick snickered. “You need tohavesome muscles before they can becomemanly. You’ve a long way to go.” He placed the baskets he was carrying down on the muddy ground. All the vegetation glistened with droplets of moisture in the morning light.

“Hey! I have muscles!”

Adalynn picked up one of the baskets and thrust it into her brother’s arms. “Good. Then put them to use and start picking squash and cucumbers.”

Danny took hold of the basket’s handles and trudged away through the mud, muttering to himself about bossy older sisters. Adalynn watched him with a grin before bending to pick up a basket for herself.

“It looks like the raspberries are finally ripe,” Merrick said as he took up a basket and a three-pronged hand cultivator. “Would you please start there, Adalynn?”

Adalynn’s grin widened; she absolutelylovedraspberries. “Oh, I don’t know. Only half of them might actually end up in the basket.”

“I’ll only allow that if you make sure Danny doesn’t see you. He’ll devour half the garden if he thinks he’s allowed to eat while he works.”

She laughed. “Deal.”

She made her way through the garden, around batches of peppers and rows of carrots, toward the fencing along which the berries grew. Her feet sank into the soft ground, and she had to battle the hungry mud’s pull each time she lifted a leg, being careful to ensure the oversized boots didn’t slide off. Still, she was glad she didn’t have to put her own boots through any more punishment today.

The raspberries stood out like clusters of rubies amongst the green leaves and vines, beckoning her. She picked the biggest, plumpest one, wiped it on her shirt, and popped it between her lips. Its juices burst across her tongue when she bit down.

Sooooo good.

She worked her way from one end of the long row of bushes to the other, selecting only the fully ripe berries and remaining mindful of the thorns throughout. Of course, she couldn’t avoid all the thorns, and ended up collecting a few minor scrapes on her arms, but her gloves protected her from the worst of it.

Most of the clouds dissipated as the day went on, and the sun shone hot and bright overhead. Danny and Merrick conversed as they worked. Adalynn glanced over her shoulder to see Merrick crouched down, working in the dirt. He lifted a mud-clumped root and showed it to Danny. The boy watched, attention rapt, hanging on Merrick’s every word as the man explained what the root was.

It was then that Adalynn knew Danny would thrive here. Merrick would teach him, guide him, and keep the boy safe.

Merrick would do what she couldn’t.

It was a bittersweet realization, but it was what Danny needed. Everything she’d done since the Sundering had been for him. They wereherebecause of him.

“Well how am I supposed to know which ones are weeds?” Danny asked. “They’re all green.”

Even from several yards away, Adalynn saw Merrick roll his eyes.

“Because they aredifferentthan whatever is planted in that row. Really, Daniel, it isn’tcomplicated,” Merrick said.

“Just because you’re old with moreworldly experience, doesn’t mean I’m dumb. Just means I’m inexperienced compared to you.”

“I did not say you were dumb, but youarebeing deliberately obtuse.”

“I don’t know what obtuse means, but you’re still old.”

Chuckling, Adalynn carried her berries over to the baskets Danny had filled with cucumbers and squash, setting her basket beside them. As she was bending down to retrieve an empty basket, a spike of pain—as sharp as an ice pick—hammered across her temples. It came and went in an instant, but that was more than enough time for her to halt, her body tensing. She held still for a moment to await the next wave of pain, but nothing came.

Maybe I just bent down too fast.

Once her tension eased, she grabbed the basket, slowly straightened, and started toward the tomatoes.

Danny jumped to his feet and hurried over to her, his brow furrowed. He extended his arms as though to take the basket from her. “Why don’t you take a break, Addy?”

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