“Blackberry.” She filed the smal teacup in front of me, then set the teapot on the table. “I hope you’re hungry this morning. I had the chef whip us up a feast.”

“I’m quite hungry, thank you,” I said, and my stomach rumbled as proof.

“Go ahead.” Elora gestured to the spread. “Take what you’d like.”

“Aren’t you eating?” I asked as I got myself a helping of raspberries.

“I’m eating some,” Elora said, but she made no move to get a plate. “How is your birthday?”

“Good, so far. But I haven’t been awake that long.”

“Is Wila throwing you a party?” Elora asked, picking absently at a plum. “Garrett told me something about it.”

“Yeah, she had a little party for me last night,” I said between bites. “It was realy nice.”

“Oh, I assumed she would have it today.”

“Rhys had plans today, and I don’t have that many friends, so she thought it would be better to do it last night.”

“I see.” Elora took a sip of her tea and said nothing more for several minutes. She only watched me as I ate, which would’ve made me self-conscious before, but I was starting to realize that she just enjoyed watching me.

“How are you feeling today?” I asked.

“I’m moving about.” She gave a smal shoulder shrug and turned to look out the window.

The shades were open slightly, letting the briliant light shine in.

The tree tops outside were covered in a heavy blanket of snow, and the reflection made the sun twice as bright.

“You look good today,” I commented.

“You look nice today, too,” Elora said without turning back to me. “That’s a lovely color on you.”

I glanced down at my dress. It was dark blue with black lace designs over it. Wila had picked it out for me, and I did think it was realy beautiful. But I stil hadn’t gotten used to Elora complimenting me.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Did I ever tel you about the day you were born?” Elora asked.

“No.” I’d been eating vanila yogurt, but I set the spoon down on the plate. “You only told me that it was hasty.”

“You were early,” she said, her voice low, as if she were lost in thought. “My mother did that. She used her persuasion, and convinced my body to go into labor. It was the only way we could protect you, but you were two weeks early.”

“Was I born in a hospital?” I asked, realizing I knew so little about my own birth.

“No.” She shook her head. “We went to the city your host family lived in. Oren thought I was interested in a family that lived in Atlanta, but I’d chosen the Everlys, who lived in northern New York.