Page 16 of Kiss and Spell
She peered up from her phone and saw Xavier standing on the sidewalk in front of her.
His deep brown eyes widened a fraction once their eyes met. “Madame Caraway.”
Ursula perked up in her seat once she heard her name on his lips.
“Your Highness,” she said. “Is your superpower sneaking up on people?”
Xavier’s mouth curled upward in a smile. “Fae can turn invisible, but I couldn’t grasp that ability in boarding school.”
Ursula let her eyes fall over Xavier. With his forest-green cardigan, open shirt, and pressed slacks with loafers, he was giving off a serious professor’s-day-off vibe. Like he’d just finished his lecture about the best herbs for faery gardens and how to care for your enchanted plants. He held a cup of some tasty-looking coffee brew and a flaky croissant on a plate. The open collar of his shirt revealed a stone pendant on hemp thread. It immediately caught Ursula’s attention. Why hadn’t she seen it before? There wasn’t a gem or crystal that she didn’t stop to admire no matter what she was doing. She didn’t pick the gemstone life; it picked her. The stone, the size of a half-dollar and light green with black stripes, gave off a delicate light, like a glow stick. Ursula blinked and the light disappeared.
Well, that was odd. Things were getting stranger in the Grove.
“May I join you?” He gestured to the open seat at her table.
She clicked off her phone and set it down by her mug. “Please sit, Your Highness.”
“I insist that you call me Xavier.” He sat down, put his items on the table, and rolled up his sleeves. Ursula’s brow lifted in interest as she studied him quietly. The man had forearms for days and weeks.
She pumped the brakes on that thought.
Don’t get too excited. He just went out with another woman last night.
“How was your date, Xavier?”
He blew out a soft breath and scratched the back of his neck. The look on his face was unreadable. “It was fine.”
Ursula played with her mug. “So, you’re going on a second date.”
His face pinched as if she suggested that he eat chocolate-covered sardines. “No, but it was still an enjoyable evening, despite how it ended.”
Her stomach dropped. She breathed deeply, rallying herself for what she was going to say.
“I want to apologize about last night,” she said. “I turned down your rose because I’m not looking for anything serious.”
Xavier tilted his head and remained quiet.
She continued. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I should’ve explained how I felt.” Ursula didn’t want to share her sad tale again. She didn’t want to see the flash of pity cross his face, the same pity that she constantly saw whenever someone learned about her abandonment. Ursula watched Xavier, noticing the faint shadow of discomfort in his eyes.
Did she say something wrong?
Xavier touched the bridge of his glasses and cleared his throat.
“Madame. You have nothing to apologize for. You don’t know me or my intentions. I should clarify. We Alder Fae offer our lapel flowers to those who have aided us. It’s a sign of friendship, nothing more.”
Oh, okay. Ursula dropped her eyes downward, unable to look at him. Embarrassment coated her skin uncomfortably like spilled sugar that she couldn’t brush off. Here she thought that he was considering courting her and the prince was being nice. She’d read more into the moment, because… well… she’d seen the sparks between them and thought there was more between them. Foolish Sula.
It would take longer for her to let the fairy tale go. But until then, she could use a friend or at least someone to talk to outside of Gwen and Mama. Her plants weren’t going to tell her when she was going too hard on the orange blossom oil.
Ursula caught Xavier’s eye. “Is it too late to accept that rose?”
He brightened and tapped her empty coffee mug. The dregs of the latte sparkled and twirled until it transformed into a bright orange rosebud. A soft gasp left her lips at the open display of magic. Her heart lifted in awe.
Xavier picked it up and held it out for her. “It’s not much but it’s yours.”
Ursula plucked the rose from his fingers, accidentally brushing up against him. There weren’t sparks this time around, but there was an invisible pulse of electricity that made her skin pop. He pulled back and rubbed the spot where they touched. Oh, he felt it too. She brought the bud to her nose. It smelled earthy and raw like a crushed pumpkin. The magic hummed against her skin.
Ursula tucked it behind her right ear.