Chapter 20

Alden

THE FIRST TIME I DRAGGED my cart up Brookside Road, I had no intention of falling for the green-haired woman who was waiting for me on the porch. But now, as I push the cart filled with bread and cookies down the lane and she walks beside me, Harrison trotting through the fresh spring greens on the forest floor, I wonder how I could ever go back to a life without her in it.

And the answer hits me square in the chest: I can't.

I don't want to.

A smile tugs at my mouth, and I don't even try to stop it. When Aurora tips her head back and her green eyes meet mine, she goes a shade of pink.

"What?" She reaches up to pat her hair, which is loose and hanging down her back in soft waves. "Is there something in my hair?"

There isn't, but that gives me an idea.

I set the cart down with a thump and a creak, and Aurora watches me curiously as I step off the path and kneel beside a downed log. A chipmunk is inside it, and I even give him a smile before I stand and face Aurora.

Her curiosity instantly melts into the warm grin I love so much.

"What's this?" she asks.

Gently, I take the single spring flower I plucked from the earth and slide it gently behind Aurora's ear. Her skin is warm and soft, and I can't resist placing a kiss to her lips.

"There. Now you have something in your hair."

Her smile turns playful, and she gives me a shove—or tries to, at least. With a soft laugh, I grab hold of the cart and resume pushing it toward Faunwood, and Aurora falls into step beside me.

"Remember that song you were singing in the garden that morning when I came by?" I ask.

Aurora tips her head, and then her eyes light up. "You mean ‘The Dance of the Earth and Sky'?"

"That's the one."

"Of course. What of it?"

"Would you sing it for us?"

Her cheeks are already pink from the fresh spring air, but they go a slightly darker shade. "I don't know..."

I give her my softest smile. "Please? I've wanted to know how it ends since that morning I interrupted you."

Aurora nibbles her bottom lip, then closes her eyes and takes a tiny breath. And then she begins to sing.

"Oh, the earth turns green and the sky turns blue, in a dance that's ancient and forever true. From the mountains high to the valleys low, the earth and sky in a waltz they go. The sky does paint the morning light, with hues of gold and pink so bright. While the earth lays down her morning dew, to welcome the day, so fresh and new."

On and on she goes, singing her song as the sun rises higher in the coral sky, and I feel, for the first time in a long time, like I'm perfectly whole inside. All thanks to Aurora Silvermoon.

When we arrive in Faunwood, the festival is in full swing. My first instinct is to quickly duck away and seek quiet solace in my cabin, but then I look down at Aurora, who's beaming with excitement, and I know there's no way I'm going to miss this. If she's here, this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

"Alden! Aurora!"

We both turn to see Lydia and her fiancé, James, waving to us from a cart parked at the edge of the market square.

Aurora hurries ahead of me to meet with them, pale yellow dress shining in the sun as she goes. Meanwhile, Harrison seems a bit perturbed by the number of people milling about the square, if his lowered tail and pinned-back ears are any indication.

"Hey, Harrison." Stooping, I pull back a flap of fabric to reveal the lower shelf on the cart, which is currently empty.

Ears flipping forward, Harrison leaps into the bottom of the shelf, then promptly sits down. The last thing I see before I drop the fabric back into place is Harrison's bright green eyes staring up at me, and even though I can't talk to him like Aurora can, I'm pretty sure that look on his face is a thank-you .

"Well, look who finally made it to a festival," Lydia says as I settle the cart full of baked goods next to hers. An assortment of items from her mercantile are displayed on the cart, along with a few pairs of gleaming silver earrings.

"Did you make those?" I ask James, glancing at the jewelry.

"I did. My smithing is coming along." He smiles proudly, showing off the thin gap between his front teeth.

"I'd say. Last year these were little more than smashed coins."

"Hey!" Lydia snaps, but James laughs.

"It's okay, Lyd. He's got a point. They did look kind of like badly smashed eldertokens."

As the sunlight hits one pair of earrings, it sends a prism of light shining across Aurora's face. She's staring into the crowd, lips slightly parted, eyes absolutely sparkling. I realize that I don't even know if her ears are pierced.

"Aurora," I call, but she doesn't look my way. "Aurora!"

This time she hears me over the din of the crowd, and she turns.

"Are your ears pierced?" I ask, and she nods. "Do you want a pair?" I point to James's display.

"Really?" She blinks at me like she's surprised. I think I probably appeared much colder to her than I've ever really been. I probably have some making up to do for all those grumbled responses and the grunts I used to use in place of words.

I offer her my hand, and she lets me take it and guide her toward the cart. As Aurora leans closer to the display to get a better look, Lydia catches my eye over her head .

She's smiling, lips turned up very gently in the corners, a warm look sparkling in her dark eyes. And when she gives me a subtle nod, I think I know exactly what she's approving of.

"How about these?" Aurora asks, pointing to a pair of earrings that look like feathers with tiny blue gems embedded in them.

"I think they're perfect." My gaze flicks up, and I toss James my coin pouch. "Just take what I owe you."

With delicate fingers, I take the jewelry from the display. The earrings feel so tiny and breakable in my hands. Maybe it's a good metaphor for what I have with Aurora. Right now it feels small, fragile. But I've every intention of nurturing it, of caring for it in every way I know how.

"Are you sure?" Aurora whispers.

"Positive. Now hold still; I don't want to poke you."

I push her hair back behind her shoulder, then slip the first earring gently into her lobe. She turns her head for me to put the second one in, and when I'm done, I run my fingers over the soft petals of the flower still tucked behind her ear. The gleaming silver and tiny blue gems catch the spring sunlight and sparkle with each movement of Aurora's head.

She looks perfect.

And I'm not sure how many times her beauty will hit me like a punch to the gut, but so far, the awe shows no sign of stopping.