“He’s not my…” I quickly realized outing that lie would make the situation worse. I shot Lucas a desperate look, my eyes saying it all—Get Kaley out of here! Lucas glanced at Kaley, seeming to calculate his odds.

“Arrest them. They’ll be tried and executed as traitors of the Green Kingdom.” The queen’s voice sliced through the air, and my gaze fired back to Kaley.

The Queen of the Pines placed her crown upon her head. With one last stone-cold look, she left, and we were seized by the Evergreen Host.

THE SIXTEENTH

THE SIXTEENTH

Stephen had raised an eyebrow when Kaley and I wandered into the church building two months ago, carrying an extra coffee.

“Hi, I’m Stephen.” He introduced himself to Kaley and waved a hand toward the nearest pew. “Feel free to sit down.”

He slid into the seat in front of us. “I’m glad you came back,” he said to me. “It’s been a while.”

“My grandma made us come,” I admitted, and Kaley jabbed me with her elbow. “We’re not going to stay long. I was just wondering about our brother. It’s been almost a year since we’ve heard from him, and I don’t even know if he’s still…”

Stephen offered a slight smile. “I’m happy to help, but I don’t really have any information to give you. I haven’t seen him since we last spoke.”

“Oh…”

“Thanks anyway,” Kaley cut in. “Sorry to interrupt your day. Can we repay you with a coffee?” She held out the extra one we brought.

Stephen chuckled. “How about a coffee tomorrow morning?” he suggested. “And a date after that?” His eyes flickered to me.

I felt a flush cross my face. Kaley’s gaze moved between the two of us, and I felt like she wanted me to say yes. But I didn’t know what to say. Why in the world was Stephen asking me when Kaley—the pretty, athletic option—was here? I avoided my sister’s intense, green gaze, wishing she’d mind her own business.

But Stephen laughed. “Don’t worry, Helen, your face is telling me enough. I’m not insulted. Disappointed, maybe, but that’s how life goes, eh?” He patted the back of the pew, thankfully still smiling about it.

I released a horrendously fake laugh and Kaley grimaced. “I’d still like to be friends,” I said, and Stephen chuckled again.

“I’d like that too. You have a certain light in you, you know. Usually, I’m pretty in tune with these things, but for some crazy reason I can’t seem to figure out exactly why yours is the way it is.”

My smile had been real after that. If only he knew.