“Yes, now.”
Raph looks to me. He kicks dirt off the wall he’s still standing on. Hands behind his back, looking guilty, he says, “Your debts are paid, all has been gained, nothing is owed, we stand as equals.”
They sound like magic words, so I expect to feel tingling across my body, but I don’t. I feel as normal as I did when I made the deal with him. But if what Davien said was true, I unknowingly gave this little boy immense power over me.
“And apologize to her,” the woman, Felda, says.
“Sorry,” he obliges, barely managing to look me in the eye.
“All is well,” I say. “And thank you for releasing me from my debts.”
“I really wasn’t going to hurt you,” Raph insists under his breath.
“That’s enough of you for one day.” Hol picks up the lad and sets him down on the ground. “I believe you still have business with Vena. You should get to it and not keep her waiting. It’s because of her we have a roof over our heads at all. So take your duties to contribute to Dreamsong more seriously.”
“Right, right.”
“We’ll see you at home later,” Felda says, her voice softening some. She reaches for Raph. In my mind’s eye, she grips the boy with both hands to further shake and scold him. But instead she pulls him to her for a tight hug. “We love you, Raphy.”
“Eww, Mom, there’s people, ugh, love you too,” Raph mumbles and scampers off. But not before his mother lands a kiss on his forehead.
“We really are so sorry for his actions.” Felda straightens and scratches the back of her head, looking guilty on her son’s behalf. “He can be a handful at times.”
“I’m not upset,” I remind them. I’m still confused as to what I just witnessed. In an instant, she showed him more affection than even Joyce showed her own flesh and blood daughters.
“Still, as an apology for our son, we would like to offer you a seat at our table and extend every measure of hospitality to you both,” Hol says.
“It would be our honor to dine with you.” Felda bows her head toward Davien.
“As it would be ours. Lead on.” Davien motions for the door and the couple leads the way to my first meal with the fae.
