“I’m just me, David.”

“That’s the best part.”

Before she could say anything, he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, then turned with a murmured good night and headed to the car.

Chapter 13

LAUREL STARED INTO THE MIRROR OVER HER SHOULDER at her bare back. There was a tiny white line down the middle—like a long-forgotten scar—but it was scarcely noticeable.

She sighed as she pulled a tank top over her head. This was so much better.

The idea of being a faerie had seemed so real last night. Today, it was a million miles away. She scrutinized the angles of her face, half-expecting them to have changed.

“I’m a faerie,” she whispered. But her reflection didn’t respond.

It felt silly to say it. She didn’t feel like a faerie—she didn’t feel any different than she ever had. She felt normal. But no matter what, she knew the truth now—and normal was not a word that would ever describe her life again.

She needed to talk to Tamani.

She tiptoed downstairs and picked up the phone, dialing David’s cell phone number. Only when he answered with a gravelly voice did she think of the time.

“What?”

There was no point in hanging up now—she’d already woken him. “Hi. Sorry. I didn’t think.”

“What are you doing up at six o’clock in the morning?” he asked sleepily.

“Um, the sun’s up.”

David snorted. “Of course.”

Laurel looked up at her parents’ room with its door slightly ajar and slid around the corner into the pantry. “Will you cover for me today?” she asked in a half whisper.

“Cover?”

“Can I tell my parents I’m at your house?”

David sounded more alert now. “Where are you actually going?”

“I have to see Tamani, David. Or at least, I have to try.”

“You’re going to the land? How’re you going to get there?”

“The bus? They’ll have something going down the 101 on a Sunday, don’t you think?”

“That’s how you’ll get to Orick, but how far is it to your old house?”

“I can put my bike on the front of the bus. It’s only a mile or so from the bus station; it won’t even take me ten minutes.”

David sighed. “I wish I had my license.”

Laurel laughed. He whined about it frequently. “Two more weeks, David. You’ll make it.”

“It’s not that. I’d like to go with you.”

“You can’t. If he knows you’re there he might not come out. He wasn’t real keen on the idea that I’d told you about the blossom in the first place.”

“You told him that?”

Laurel wrapped the phone cord around her wrist. “He asked if I’d told anyone and I just blurted it out. He’s kind of different—persuasive. It’s like you can’t lie to him.”

“I don’t like this, Laurel. He could be dangerous.”

“You’re the one who’s been saying he was right all week. He says he’s like me.

If he told the truth about everything else, why would he lie about that?”

“What about Barnes? What if he’s there?”

“Papers aren’t signed yet. We still own it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Mom mentioned it just yesterday.”

David sighed and the line was silent.

“Please? I have to go. I have to find out more.”

“All right. One condition—when you get back you tell me what he said.”

“Everything I can.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know what he’s going to tell me. What if there’s some big faerie secret I’m not supposed to tell anyone about?”

“Fine, everything except the big secret of the world if there is one. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“Laurel?”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful. Be very, very careful.”

After chaining her bike to a small tree, Laurel hefted her backpack onto one shoulder. She passed the empty house, then hesitated at the edge of the tree line where several paths snaked into the thick bushes and forest. She decided to take the path to the place he found her last time. That seemed as good a plan as any.

When she reached the large rock by the creek, Laurel looked around. Sitting by the beautiful stream made her feel calm and happy; for a moment she considered just sitting there for an hour, then returning home without speaking to Tamani at all. It was just so nerve-racking to talk to him.

But she forced herself not to wimp out, took a deep breath, and yelled, “Tamani?” Rather than echoing off the rocks, her voice seemed to absorb into the trees, making her feel very small. “Tamani?” she called again, a little softer this time. “Are you still here? I want to talk.” She turned in a circle, trying to look everywhere at once. “Tam—”

“Hey.” The voice was welcoming but strangely hesitant.

Laurel turned and nearly ran into Tamani’s chest. She threw her hands up over her mouth to silence a scream. It was Tamani, but he looked different than before. His arms were bare, but his shoulders and chest were covered in what looked like armor made from bark and leaves. A long spear stuck up over his shoulder, its stone tip sharpened to a razor edge. He was as stunning as before, but an air of intimidation hung around him like a thick fog.