Chapter 208: Warmth and Shadows

On the ride back to Grayhaven, Cyrus kept finding his attention drawn to Audra.

He could see her reflection in the bus window whenever the light caught the glass. She sat straight, but her eyes were unfocused, and she barely moved. He had a pretty good idea what was troubling her.

He'd asked for two days to consider her confession. Now that he'd had time to think, he couldn't see the point of making her wait that long. He already knew his answer. Waiting wouldn't make the rejection kinder, and pretending he might change his mind would only give her hope he couldn't justify.

That didn't make telling her any easier.

They'd been doing fine as friends. They studied together and could sit in the same room without worrying about what every gesture meant. He'd liked it that way. Now she was going to get hurt regardless.

Every so often, Audra appeared in the glass again, as motionless as a doll propped neatly in a seat. Cyrus looked away. Watching her wouldn't help.

Back at St. Alder Academy, everyone returned to their familiar classroom. Audra took her usual seat and sat perfectly straight, as if she'd followed a set of instructions all the way from the bus. She hardly seemed aware that they'd arrived.

Ms. Hart stood at the front and reminded the class to settle back into their usual routines. They had school the next day, and the trip was officially over. Students began collecting their bags and drifting out, talking over one another as they headed into the hall.

Audra stayed where she was.

Cyrus remained seated too. He waited while the last classmates left, then got up and walked over to her desk. By then they had the classroom to themselves. He stood beside her without making a sound and spoke quietly.

"Audra, could we talk?"

"Yeah, I'm listening," she answered, turning toward him.

There was uncertainty in her expression, but she was trying hard to hold his gaze. Cyrus had noticed the effort it cost her. He couldn't lie just to get through this.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to date anyone right now."

For an instant, Audra couldn't make sense of the words.

He'd actually said no. She'd convinced herself that his answer was almost certain to be yes, based on all the small things she'd noticed between them. Even after he'd asked for time on the bridge, she'd believed he would come around. Hearing the opposite now made every sound in the classroom seem harsh and distant at once.

Her head hurt. She wanted to ask why, to tell him he'd misunderstood, but she couldn't get the words out.

Through the rush of noise in her ears, she heard him speak again.

"If you're okay with it, I'd still like us to be friends."

He placed a small charm on her desk. It was shaped like a whale, neatly made and small enough to hang from a bag or key ring. A little gift, offered with the rejection he hadn't known how to soften.

Audra looked at it, then rose so suddenly that her chair shifted behind her. She didn't say anything. She simply took the whale charm, turned, and walked out of the classroom.

Cyrus watched her leave. When he was alone, he scratched his head and exhaled.

He hadn't wanted to hurt her, but accepting her feelings out of guilt would have been worse. At least he'd told her the truth.

By around three that Sunday afternoon, Cyrus was leaving the academy grounds with his cap pulled down over his hair. He stopped near an intersection when his phone vibrated.

He'd already sent Faye a message asking whether it would be all right to visit her house that afternoon. Her reply had arrived quickly.

Faye: Of course you can. You're always welcome here.

Even her texts seemed gentle. Cyrus wondered whether she ever told anyone that a visit was inconvenient. He could easily imagine her saying everything was fine while she was busy with something else.

He replied, then headed for the cake shop he remembered. Visiting empty-handed didn't seem right.

When he stepped out with a boxed cake, a prickling sensation made him slow down. Someone was watching him.

His gaze passed over the people on the sidewalk. A few were looking into shop windows; others walked by without a second glance. He couldn't find anyone behaving oddly. He adjusted his cap, making sure it shaded his face.

The cap usually helped, though it couldn't stop someone who'd already seen his face. Perhaps a passerby had noticed him and kept looking. With nothing more to go on, he continued toward Faye's house.

He'd visited often enough to recognize the entrance immediately. He rang the bell, and after a short wait Faye opened the door. She wore comfortable clothes and looked perfectly at ease, greeting him with a welcoming expression.

"I brought a cake," Cyrus said, holding out the box.

"Thanks for bringing it. Come on in," Faye replied.

He passed it to her, set his bag of souvenirs near the entryway, and made himself comfortable on the couch. Faye went to prepare tea. From where he sat, he could see her moving about with the practiced ease of someone who knew exactly where everything belonged.

"Where are Miles and Lena?" he asked.

"They're still napping. Would you like me to wake them?"

"No, let them sleep. There's no rush."

Neither brought up the trip. Faye didn't ask where he'd gone or why he'd visited, and he appreciated the lack of questions.

She brought him a cup of tea and set it in front of him.

"Thanks for the tea, Faye."

"You're very welcome," she said, smiling.

She seemed to be in a good mood. Cyrus remembered the small purchases in his bag and reached down to take them out. The matching hair clip had broken during the trouble with the thief, but the purple bracelet had survived, and he'd found a few inexpensive presents for the children as well.

"I got you something in Bellhaven," he said, handing her the bracelet. "I picked up a couple of things for Miles and Lena, too."

Faye accepted the bracelet with both hands. The pale purple flowers along the band stood out against the simple threadwork. Her expression softened as she examined them.

"This is lovely. Thank you, Cyrus."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Can I put it on now?"

"Sure, it's yours."

She slipped it around her bare wrist and adjusted it so the tiny flowers faced outward. After studying the pattern, she looked up at him.

"Why did you choose hydrangeas?"

"No particular reason. I thought you'd like them."

It wasn't the whole explanation, though there wasn't much more to it. Her profile picture in their chat was a hydrangea, and he'd remembered that when he saw the bracelet. It had simply seemed right for her.

"I really do like it," Faye said. "Thank you again, Cyrus."

Cyrus shifted his fingers around his teacup, uncomfortable with her direct gratitude. Faye was always sincere about these things. Maybe if she thanked him enough times, he'd eventually learn how to take it without feeling awkward.

He lifted the cup and took a sip to give himself something to do. The tea was hotter than he'd expected, and the tip of his tongue stung. He kept his face neutral and carefully lowered the cup again.

Not long afterward, Miles and Lena wandered into the living room with sleep-tousled hair. They spotted Cyrus and brightened immediately. Miles wasted little time inviting him to play video games, and Cyrus agreed.

Lena stayed close throughout the afternoon. Sometimes she climbed into his lap; sometimes she looped an arm through his or stood behind him with her chin resting on his shoulder while he played. Cyrus let her settle wherever she was comfortable, keeping his attention on the game and the children's chatter.

Faye sat nearby, smiling at the sight of them together. She let them play without interruption.

As dinner approached, Miles finally paused to ask the question he'd apparently been waiting to ask.

"Are you staying for dinner? Please say you'll eat with us."

Lena looked at Cyrus with the same hopeful expression. He glanced over at Faye rather than answering for her.

She looked up from the book in her hands and nodded.

"Stay and eat with us," she said. "Then we can have the cake you brought afterward."

"If you don't mind having me," Cyrus replied.

"It's no trouble at all."

Faye smiled and went into the kitchen. She tied back her hair and fastened an apron behind her waist, ready to get started. Cyrus played with the children a little longer before joining her to help prepare dinner.

The four of them ate together. The children talked freely, Faye answered them with her usual patience, and Cyrus enjoyed a meal he hadn't had to plan around his school or work schedule. Warm light filled the room as the evening settled outside.

Later that night, someone stood near the Larkin house beneath a streetlight.

Audra had lost track of how long she'd been watching. She'd only meant to follow Cyrus far enough to see him safely home. Instead, she'd remained nearby, looking toward a house where the lights were on and the windows offered occasional glimpses of children moving around inside.

She lowered her eyes to the whale charm in her palm and rubbed a thumb over its little back.

Whales were supposed to have only one mate for life. Was Cyrus trying to tell her something with this gift, or had he chosen it without thinking about what it might mean?

His answer in the classroom returned to her. He didn't want to date anyone right now.

Was that really the problem? Did he not want a relationship at all, or did he simply not want one with her?

The questions drew her further into thoughts she'd been trying to keep in check. She watched the welcoming light behind the windows, while a darker idea slowly took shape. It was troubling how easily something so possessive could grow from feelings she still considered tender.

Then the answer seemed almost embarrassingly simple. If she wanted to know what Cyrus truly meant, why keep guessing? She could ask him directly.

After all, she had a way to make him tell her the truth, with absolute certainty.

Back in her bedroom, a small box sat on a bookshelf. Through its narrow seams, the glamourkin ring inside cast an unnatural pink light that continued to glow in the darkness.