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“What?” Philippa stared at the pie I produced.
“I have no idea what’s in it. The fruit in that orchard look different from anything I’ve ever had, but they’re delicious. Try a piece.”
“Okay,” Philippa said carefully.
I cut her a slice, the steam rising from the filling. When Philippa bit into the pie, her eyes rolled back before they closed.
“Oh, gods and goddesses,” she sighed. “This pie is amazing.”
I giggled. “You can have more.”
“Oh, no.” She shook her head while shoveling more pie into her mouth. “I can’t have more than one slice or I won’t stop. Seriously, that pie is so good, I’ll eat until you have to roll me out of here.”
I laughed, cut myself a slice, and walked into the living area, where I tucked my feet under me on the couch. Philippa carried her loot to me and sat down on the other end of the couch.
“So, you look like you’re in a good mood,” Philippa said, speaking around the pie she chewed. “I thought I would find you in a state after you talked to Ash about the whole magic thing.” She glanced up at me while she ate.
I shook my head. “I’m not in any kind of state. Except a happy one, I guess. I was angry when I found out, and I wanted him to own up to it. He did. His reason for not telling me was sweet.”
Philippa raised her eyebrows. “It was?”
I nodded. “He’s a nice guy.”
Philippa tilted her head to the side. “Are we talking about the same guy?”
I giggled. “What do you mean?”
“Honey, Ash isn’t a nice guy. He’s not even a neutral guy. He’s grumpy as hell, he doesn’t do nice things for people… he pretty much just gets what he wants.”
“Really? That’s not how I see him at all.”
“Yeah, that’s weird,” Philippa said, taking another bite. “That could be problematic.”
“What?” I laughed. “Why?”
“I have no idea.”
That only made me laugh more. “I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”
Philippa finished her pie and put the empty plate on the couch pillow next to her. “Ash just isn’t a nice guy. He has too much baggage, and he’s very grumpy and sullen about it. He’s been like that for three hundred years.”
I narrowed my eyes at Philippa. “How long?”
“Oh, right. You’re not used to the whole immortality thing. Druses don’t die. They’re the protectors of the forest so they live forever, unless something goes wrong. So, when shit happens, even if it’s a lifetime ago, it’s the same person with the same past and the same burdens as centuries ago.”
I frowned and shook my head. “It’s hard to imagine someone living that long.” I glanced around the cabin. “I guess it makes sense why this place is so medieval, then. I mean, there’s not even running water or electricity or anything.”
Philippa nodded. “Yeah. He’s had this place for a long time. It was where Ava used to visit him, too.”
“That’s his ex?” I asked.
Philippa nodded.
“That was three hundred years ago?” I asked. Philippa had filled me in on Ash’s failed relationship, but not in so much detail. “That’s a long time.”
“It was.”
“And it still bugs him?”
