Page 68 of The Heart and the Hawthorn

She didn’t though. She just thought about what they’d said. If an army of fairies were going to attack Forge House, she’d know about it, surely. It would have made the history books. But that didn’t mean it couldn’t happen, she supposed. Not when she’d slipped through time, not when they currently stood in a place between. She’d been secretly hoping she could change the future: hoping to convince Dian not to destroy the LEZ. Now, she found herself thinking whether it might be possible to uproot the entire past.

There was only one thing she knew for certain. She did not want Dian anywhere near that house. ‘I just need a bit of time,’ she managed, shifting on her tight boots. After dipping her feet in the pool, they felt horribly claustrophobic. She didn’t know what Dian saw in her expression, but when their shoulders slumped in assent, she couldn’t help the breath of relief that tumbled out of her.

In weary surrender, they held out their hand to her – curls of steam wreathing them like a shroud. ‘Ok,’ they said quietly. ‘Let’s go then.’

She cast one last look at the fairy pool.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

Suddenly she felt as if she was saying goodbye. Even though this was what she wanted, she hadn’t meant for it to happen this quickly. Surely there must be more to say. But Dian’s face was set now, so she dragged her eyes away from the misty water and told herself to be brave. Told herself that Dian would be pleased to get rid of her and that, at the very least, Dian would be safe. It was this thought that gave her the courage to slip her hand through theirs.

The next time she blinked, the magical pool was gone and golden candlelight bled across the grass before her.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

‘Dian!’ she cried.

Without a word, they’d set off, striding down the gravel path away from her. Towards the looming white limestone of Forge House.

‘Dian! What are you doing?’

As their shadow bled in and out of a row of tall poplar trees, she set off at a run after them. Fuck! Their legs may have been longer, but Frida could run when she wanted. It wasn’t long before she’d caught up to them and grabbed their sleeve. They spun, the shadows of the poplars holding them firmly in their grasp.

‘You think I’m going to let you go in there on your own?’ they hissed. ‘How can you not trust me yet?’ They bared their teeth as they jerked their chin towards the white shape of the house. The distant yellow light of the candles flooded out of the windows across the front lawn, coating the edge of their face, their strong jaw, their soft rounded cheeks, in gold.

Frida reeled back, shocked. She told herself she refused to cry. ‘You’re the one who doesn’t trust me,’ she shot back.

Dian’s eyes widened immeasurably, suddenly furious. ‘Me? Are you aware of how much you don’t look like a human, Frida Rose? Are you aware of how dangerous it would be for you to go alone into that house?’

It took her a moment for what they’d said to sink in. She furrowed her brows in confusion. ‘What?’

Dian barked out a laugh. ‘You glow.’

‘I don’t glow,’ Frida exclaimed.

Dian raised an eyebrow and crossed their arms over their chest, waiting.

Frida looked down at herself. She’d thought the light had been coming from Dian, from Moth’s gently woven cobwebs. But it was, ever so faintly, coming from her, too. She drew in a gasp and lifted her hands before her. They were, indeed, glowing. Suddenly, she had a memory of lying under a broken hawthorn tree. Hit by lightning. Her body had glowed then too. Purple. This, now she’d noticed it, also had a faint violet-y sheen.

‘How long have I been like this?’ she stammered, waving her hands in dismay.

Dian laughed in disbelief, a rough, leafy sound. ‘You didn’t know, truly?’

‘No, I didn’t know!’ Frida retorted. ‘When you’re with a glowing fairy made of raindrops and spider silk, it’s hard to see much else if I’m honest.’

The way that Dian’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, made Frida instantly feel as if she’d shared much too much. ‘I mean, you know.’ She glared down at her hands, clearing her throat. ‘You glow too.’

Moth, from wherever he’d hidden himself, chuckled gleefully.

Frida’s ears went pink. She asked again, in desperation, ‘How long have I looked like this?’

Dian cocked their head, chewing their lip as if trying not to laugh too. ‘It’s been getting stronger. I think the pool emphasised it.’

‘The pool!’ Frida closed her eyes in panic. ‘I told you it would turn me silver!’

‘Oh, you’re not silver, dragon-not-a-dragon.’ Dian’s lips twitched. ‘You’re more mauve.’

Frida groaned.