Page 18 of Healing Elixirs & Wicked Crows

"No," I replied, my hands working to hold branches out of my face as I moved through the thicker wood."It’s far more dangerous to be caught on that traveled path than to forge our own way through the forest.We take the untraveled path always, as is our way."

She remained where she stood."You mean the unseelie way."

I shrugged, letting go of the branch to grab the next one."Same thing."

I heard her steps hesitantly following behind mine.Her grunts as she ducked under reaching branches."But it's not the same thing."

"But it is," I said lowly, with more bite than I had intended as I whirled to face her.The prejudice in her words and thoughts bothered me more than I cared to admit.I breathed in deeply, trying to let it go.

She shook her head and stepped back, creating space between us.Her eyes fiercely locked onto mine, even as I towered over her.I licked my lips while staring down, catching what seemed like a fleeting desire in her deep brown eyes.But it vanished too quickly to be certain.

"I hate to tell you this, darling, but we were once the same.There was no division between us until we came to this realm."I leaned closer, erasing whatever distance she tried to place between us."So trust me when I tell you that it’sourway."

She smelled of vanilla and sunshine, a heady scent that filled my senses as our noses almost touched.I inched closer, and she met my gaze with defiance.We breathed the same air, and her nearness ignited my blood.

"Yeah," she said, her words breathy."That was a really long time ago.It's been different ever since."

"You know what I think, Rosemary?"I asked, not giving her time to answer as I let my chin graze her cheek as I lowered my lips to her ear.My voice dropped to a whisper."I think you're just worried how much like me you truly are."

She sucked in a quick breath, taking a step backward as she glared up at me."I am not!"

I smirked.I could see that fear all across her face, written there like a story for anyone to read.Her chest heaved with her enraged breaths.

"I think," I continued, "that you are using it as a way to keep your distance from me.I've seen the way you look at me.How I make you feel.That scares you, so you're drawing a line of separation that will make it easier for you to keep us apart.It won't work, of course."

I turned then, having said what needed to be said, and pushed forward, holding branches aside so she could follow.I couldn't keep the smirk from my face at the sounds of her heaving breath and stomping feet.

"I don't even know you!"she huffed, her hurried steps trying to keep up with my lengthier pace.

Stopping for a moment, she almost slammed into my back before I faced her again."Don't you though?"My hand hesitantly rose between us, until my fingertips toyed with the bottom of one of her braids that laid over her shoulder.I gave it a soft little tug, the same way I always had.Something flickered across her face, but then it was gone again.

Rosemary turned her head, trying to keep me from reading her.She opened her mouth as if to respond, but she snapped it shut a moment later.She pulled in a deep breath and placed a careful step between us."Listen," she said, her gaze still not meeting mine."If we’re going to do this, if we’re going to help each other, then we’re going to need to set some ground rules.This..."She motioned between us, finally lifting an accusing glare my way."Whatever it is you are trying to do here, it isn't going to happen."

"As you wish, princess," I said with a cocky smirk before I turned back around, starting forward once more.

I only made it two steps before I heard something rustling behind me, then something hit me square in the back.When I glanced down, a stone rolled to a stop beneath me.I spun around."Did you just throw a rock at me?"I sauntered toward her, unable to keep the smile from my face."Oh, you vicious little thing.You know that a little violence really tur?—“

She didn't let me finish."I was aiming for your big dumb head, but you're too damn tall!"She crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at me."Now, you’ll promise me that you’ll respect what we need to do here and not try anything, or I won't take another step forward."

"I'm the one you maimed, and you're worried about me trying something?"I feigned bafflement."Next, you'll drown me in the river and blame it on me."

While my features portrayed an air of amusement, I watched her carefully, willing her to remember who I was.She stared at me, her arms still hugging her chest in frustration.There was something there between us, but it vanished within a blink.

"If I drown you in a river, it will be because you deserved it.Trust me."

"Aren't healers supposed to be all do no harm and such?"I teased.

She mumbled something about some things deserving harm before she dropped her arms."Forget this," she ground out before storming off.

"Rosemary," I called out to her slowly retreating form, the thick brush of the forest slowing her progress.

"What?"she snapped, her braids flung over her shoulder as she glared back at me.She yanked a portion of her skirts from where they'd become caught on a thorny vine.She looked positively adorable, and I almost laughed.

"You're going the wrong way."

She turned on her heel and stomped past me, going the direction that I indicated.Before I took a single step after her, a thick branch smacked me in the face as she passed.I couldn't tell if it was her throwing it back at me or the forest chiding me for teasing Rosemary too much.Either way, it hurt, and I rubbed the pained skin of my cheek as I followed her.

We sat in silence for a while, but the tension crackled between us like angry lightning, revealing that she felt the same pull I’d always felt toward her.Our hearts beat in unison.For the past century, I’d tried to forget the sparkle of her brown eyes when she smiled and how her hair always escaped from its braids.Yet, her scent lingered in every bakery, under every clear sky, and in my dreams.She was unforgettable.Somehow, I wasn't as memorable to her as she was to me.