"Charlieis just short for Charlenthiel. Figured I should make it easy for the commonfolk."
"Doesn'texactly roll off the tongue." I didn't yank my hand away, but somethinginside me made me want to. Probably because Jaeren was such a prick.
"Youhave forsaken the light. Tis only natural," she answered as if she werereading my thoughts. Either that, or I was making an unpleasant face.
"Ididn't forsake anything. The night is just more fun."
"Andyet you walk in the company of the sun." She smiled down at Candace.Somebody had a little crush. I wondered how Josie felt about that… "Sitanywhere you'd like. The lunch rush is over." Since the small shop onlyhad about ten tables, the lunch rush must have been spectacular, to say theleast.
Charliewalked over to the counter and grabbed a couple of menus. Candace gave me anembarrassed, apologetic look and tugged my hand to the table closest to thedoor.
"Whatcan I get you to drink?" Charlie put our menus down on the table andfolded her hands in front of her.
"Water,please," Candace said almost too softly to hear.
"Doyou have Coke?"
Shefrowned. "No. We have assorted teas and juices."
Luckily,our lunch date was about Candace and not me. "Tea?"
"Sweet,unsweet, peach, raspberry, dragon fruit, or boba?"
"Boba?"
"It'sjuice infused tapioca balls."
"Ididn't know tapiocas had balls." I laughed at my joke. I was the only one."Sweet. Please." I was definitely in the wrong restaurant. Margewould have at least chuckled.
"Beright back with your drinks." Charlie headed toward the back.
"Idon't think she likes me very much…"
"Youare the queen of the night and the master of the undead. Give her some time."
"She'lllike me when she gets to know me?"
"Probablynot. But she might learn to school her dislike."
"Ican live with that." Picking up the menu, I frowned at the selections.Ninety-eight percent of it had kale in it. "What do you suggest?"
"Theyhave a turkey burger."
"Doesit have kale on it?"
"Youcan hold the kale."
"I'dprefer not to touch it." I found the turkey burger on the menu and frownedeven more. I could only pronounce half of the toppings. "When in Rome."
"Doas the Romans?"
"Trynot to get stabbed in the back."
Charliereturned and gave us our drinks. Candace ordered for us both, and Charlie didn'thesitate before heading back to the safety of the kitchen.
Sighing,I put my chin in my hand, leaned against the arm of the wicker-encrusted chair,and looked around. As much as I hated to admit it, the place was cute.
"Youwill like the food, Lady."
"Aslong as Charlie doesn't slip some elven poison in it, I'm sure it will bedelicious." For the first time in my life, I fervently wished I had broughtJaeren with me. He was royalty. That might have put the snooty elf in herplace. He might have been king of a different elfhame for all I knew, butstill. Elves respected royalty. Even when they were pompous airbags.
"Lightelves would never resort to poison, Lady."
"Toopure for that?"
"Magicis more efficient."
Shewasn't making me feel any better. "I see why you like this place."
"Because?"
"It'slight and airy. Cute. Just like you."
Candaceblushed, almost putting her face behind her hands. I couldn't help but smile,and I relaxed a little. With the opening of the bookstore, she and Josie hadbeen run ragged. I missed my little fey-blooded ball of sunshine.
"Howare you and Josie doing? Getting excited about moving into your house?"
Shenodded, very emphatically. I was almost worried about her head toppling off herneck.
"Gettingsick of your old Aunt Dot already?"
Sheshook her head as equally as violent. But then she sighed and sipped her water.She seemed to be struggling to ask me something but finally blurted out, "Areyou ever going to tell her?"
"Tellwho?"
"Josie."
"Uhhh.Tell her what?"
Sheraised one of her perfectly manicured eyebrows at me. Maybe they were natural.It wasn't as if I'd ever seen Candace plucking them, but nothing could be thatnatural and perfect. It wouldn't have been fair to the rest of us. "Thetruth?"
"Whattruth?" An icy fist clamped around my heart.
Candacesighed, set her water down on the table in front of her, and leaned forward onher elbows. "I know."
"That…"
"Sheis your sibling."
"Howdid you find out?"
Shesmiled at me. "Since the moment I saw you in the same room as her. Yourpower is very similar, just in vastly different quantities."
"Whydidn't you say anything?"
"Becauseneither of you knew. I could tell that much, too. But then when you found out,I could feel it. It wasn't my place to say anything in front of Josie, but nowthat I have you alone… When are you going to tell her?"
"Whenthat knowledge won't be a danger."
"You'refooling yourself."
Candacewas shy and demure. Most of the time. When she had hermoments of…clarity, she was almost scary in her conviction and sincerity. "Aboutwhat?"
"Thatyou think Josie is the reason why you haven't told her."
Iforgot to mention that she was pretty fucking insightful, too. "I don'tknow what you're talking about."
Candacetrailed her finger through the condensation on her glass and then rubbed itbetween her thumb and forefinger, thinking. "You're afraid that she willbe upset."
"Ofwhat?"
"Exactly."
Iblinked in confusion.
"Doyou honestly think the joy of finding out you are her sister would outweigh the shock?"
Isighed. "It's not the shock of it that I'm worried about. Josie… She'sbeen my best friend forever. Since the day we were born. Our lives were vastly different."
"How?"
"You'vemet her mother?"
Candaceshuddered. "But I have also met yours. I see problems with both."
"Youhit the nail on the head. But my mother was the high priestess of the coven.Magic came easy to me. I had a super-hot boyfriend. There were many times that Josie and I driftedapart."
"Becauseshe was jealous."
Ishrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."
"Iwasn't asking."
"Oh."
"Andyou think if she finds out you are siblings, she will be angry because you areso vastly different?"
"Yes."
"Youboth have one very important thing in common."
"What?"
"Youboth can be very stupid." She finished just as Charlie set our food infront of us and picked up our half-empty glasses for refills. She did snickerwhen she heard Candy call me stupid but left it at that.
Iwas shocked. Candace had called me stupid and I didn't think I'd ever been
