127. Lily
LILY
Lily hadn’t realized she was crying until a tear slid down her cheek and onto the plant.
It splashed off the waxy, tightly closed bud and into the soil.
There were too many things sloshing around messily in her heart.
She was crying because she knew that she would love Sebastian forever if she could.
Like Chant had said, they had something rare and good.
It was blindingly unfair that they only had a month left.
She was crying because she was loved, had become rich in love, even, and it was going to hurt people, when she was gone.
She was crying because, for some reason, Sebastian had gotten her a living, growing thing for her birthday, and she probably wouldn’t be around to even see it bloom for the first time.
“A plant?” she sniffed, wiping her eyes with the cuff of her sweater.
Several more tears fell into the soil, and Sebastian regarded them strangely.
“I’ve probably killed it; I don’t think salt water is good for plants.”
“I think it’s fine,” he said quickly.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know yet,” he said apologetically.
She held the plant, with its one tiny bud, up for inspection. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but this is a very weird gift, Sebastian.”
He forced a laugh. “Don’t tell me you wanted diamonds instead.”
“Something like that.”
“It’s magic.” She glanced at him. “Supposedly.”
“What does it supposedly do?”
“Grant wishes.”
“Sebastian…” she sighed.
“I know, I know, you just want to enjoy the time you have. But it’s harmless. It’s just a plant.”
“Where did you get it?”
“Asher helped me find it. We may have stolen a cutting from Hemlock Hall.”
So many things that previously didn’t add up suddenly made a sideways sort of sense.
“Is that where you went during the gala? Is that why he showed up during the tournament?”
“Yeah.” Seb sighed. “I’m sorry, I wanted to keep you out of it. I didn’t want you to get in trouble.”
“So, you stole this from my grandfather?” She grinned savagely. “I take it back; this is the best present ever. How does it work?”