“Wait, I…” He blinked rapidly. “It is too much.”

Don’t take it! I silently begged.

She grasped his wrist and dropped the gift into his hand, curling his fingers around it. He closed his eyes.

“To remember me when we are not together.”

He nodded once, almost imperceptibly, and then she ghosted into the field, disappearing into nothingness.

McKale leaned back against a tree, appearing dazed for a minute, and then he walked to the edge of the woods and peered again at the village. Looking for me? When he didn’t see anything, he opened his hand and stared down at the gift he’d accepted. He sat hard on the ground, leaning his head back on a tree and shutting his eyes. I couldn’t move, and it hurt to watch as he let his head roll forward. He propped his elbows on his knees and scrubbed his hands up and down his face, letting out a sound of frustration.

I wanted to go to him. But when I got there I wasn’t sure if I’d want to comfort him or kick him in the head. I couldn’t get the tender images from my mind.

I didn’t want to hang out in the dark forest all night. Who knew how long he’d sit there waiting for me. I wasn’t in the mood anymore after witnessing that sultry-eyed encounter. All I wanted now was to be alone. I stood up, tall and straight, holding the ball against my stomach with both hands draped over it. Then I walked out of the trees into the field.

“Robyn?” McKale called out, sounding unsure and confused. “Bloody ‘ell.” I heard him shuffle to his feet, and I walked even faster.

“Robyn wait!”

I did not want to look back. But I did.

He was standing stiff, appearing stricken as he realized I must’ve seen the whole thing. He started to make his way to me, but I shook my head.

“Don’t.” My voice was thick. “Please, McKale. I can’t talk right now.”

He stopped abruptly, as if I’d kicked him in the stomach. Facing forward again, I jogged the rest of the way back to my room.

THANKFULLY CASSIDY WAS NOT in the room when I came storming in. I didn’t want to talk. I was afraid I might cry, and that, above all, irritated the hell out of me. It was hard to see the positive in this situation. Even if he did like me, they had a history and she obviously had her mind set on him. All she had to do was touch him and he forgot me and everything else.

This dangerous little game was not a fair match. More like David and Goliath, only in this case Goliath was a small girl with big magic that could definitely kick my butt. Did I have anything in my faintly-magical human arsenal to use as a pebble and slingshot against her?

The only thing that came to mind was the fact that I could give him babies and she couldn’t, but I would never use that. I wanted him to want me, as a person, not just my Leprechaun-growing hotel.

I lit the gas lamp. Then I tore open the lid to McKale’s bin and shoved the soccer ball inside, slamming the lid shut again. Do not forget the one who has been kind to you all your life. Well, I’d dedicated my whole life to him too, and I hadn’t even known him! I kicked the bin of proof. I was the person her people had hand-picked to bind with him. Why was she interfering?

I changed into pajamas and threw my clothes as hard as I could around the room. It was immature, but it felt good.

By the time I climbed into bed and settled down, I was ready to talk to Cassidy, but she still hadn’t come back. I waited for her, running through the scene over and over in my mind. The way McKale touched her with tender familiarity and succumbed so easily to her will. Her words—telling him to stay away from me.

Geez, where was Cassidy?

I shut off the lamp. Darkness fit the mood. I must have waited for my sister a very long time because I fell asleep. I was startled awake by a shuffle and thump, followed by a loud whisper of, “Shitballs!” I sat up and fumbled for the gas lamp, finding and lighting it.

Whoa. Cassidy was a hot mess. Her clothes appeared damp and wrinkled. A lumpy pony-bun sat askew on top of her head.

“What are your clothes doing everywhere?” she asked. “I tripped over them.”

“The Freaky Fae Girl came out of the portal and ruined my date.”

“Shut up! What happened?” She came over and sank into the bed at my side while I told her everything.

After she’d called the FFG every bad name in the book, and then some creative names she’d made up on the fly, I felt the tiniest measure better.

“Why don’t you just give him the presents and show him the video so he’ll know how you really feel?”

My insides seized up at the idea of making myself vulnerable in that way. She may as well have asked why I didn’t dance a naked jig for him on one of the tables. Sure, he might like it, but then again he might think I’m a desperate fool.

When McKale explained his clan’s feelings on the importance of gifts, he had really nailed how I felt about the bin. Giving him those presents was going to be like giving him a piece of myself. I wouldn’t force my gifts on him like the FFG had done to him tonight. And I couldn’t handle it if we weren’t both honored in full by the giving and receiving of each heartfelt item.

“I can’t,” I told her. “Not right now.”

“Yeah, you’re right. He doesn’t deserve it after kissing the enemy.”

“He can’t help it. She makes him lose his mind.”

“Then why are you mad at him?”

“I don’t know.” I was shaking. “I guess I just want him to be strong enough that she won’t affect him, but I know that’s not fair. I’ve never felt this… this…” I searched for the right word.