Contents
15. Fifteen
Overview
Ezra surprises Amara with a secret-tunnel sunrise picnic, revealing he glamoured her aunt’s memories and knows Amara by her scent. He then pushes Amara away with a cutting remark about sending her home. Later, Poppy discloses Ezra intended to ask Amara to stay, prompting a confrontation.
Summary
Poppy wakes Amara before dawn with news that King Ezra requests her immediately. Poppy dresses Amara, and Ezra leads her through a hidden sconce door into a stone tunnel. They emerge onto a mountainside at sunrise where he has prepared a picnic with pastries he baked.
Amara marvels at the view and the danishes, and Ezra checks on her before the wedding. He reveals he glamoured Amara’s aunt to believe Amara is delivering herbs and explains he tracked Amara by her scent, describing it as honey and lavender. The intimacy of his words flusters Amara.
When Amara asks how he feels about the wedding and sending her home, Ezra looks away and says he can’t wait to be rid of “a little human sneaking around,” shattering Amara’s hopes that his feelings match hers.
That afternoon in the library, Amara reads to distract herself until Poppy arrives. Poppy assumes Ezra asked Amara to stay after the wedding, but Amara recounts his rejection. Realizing Ezra concealed his true intentions, Poppy calls him a coward.
Determined to resolve the misunderstanding and Ezra’s mixed signals, Poppy seizes Amara’s wrist and drags her off to confront the king.
Who Appears
- AmaraProtagonist; taken to a secret sunrise picnic, hurt by Ezra’s dismissal, then agrees to confront him.
- Ezra KincaidFae king; arranges picnic, admits glamouring Amara’s aunt and knowing her scent, then coldly pushes her away.
- PoppyFriend and attendant; wakes Amara, later reveals Ezra meant to ask Amara to stay, initiates confrontation.