Page 69 of Pocket Full Of Posies

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 announcingourbonding. 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 naïve 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 wasshedoing 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, thehalf-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.

Chapter 25: Kai

My oh so wonderful conversation with my mother is interrupted by Endo bursting in through the flap of their massively opulent tent. The fur around his neck is standing on end and his ears twitch in agitation. Whatever the reason for the interruption, it is not good.

“Kai, you’re needed.Outside.” He tilts his head sharply at the exit, eyes wide and pleading for me not to argue. Like I would. I’d take any excuse to leave.

“What is this about Endo?” my mother demands. Luckily neither of us care about her demands and both ignore her.

“Gotta go. Let’s not do this again soon.” I turn on a heel and head for the door, sounds of my mothers’ complaints and guffaws behind me.

I could care less if I offended her or am acting improperly for a male of my position. I’ve never behaved properly before and I’m not going to start now.

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