He paused, as if considering what to say. But then he said, “I’ve seen it for a while. But I don’t think they know it yet, and it doesn’t mean you and Wolf can’t work out for now.”

“For now,” Fairy echoed quietly.

“Maybe forever. Gemina relationships aren’t allowed.”

Except their world had capsized, and the rules had fallen overboard with it.

She watched Wolf and Spirit for another minute. He was using his gravitational powers to keep crab apples on the ground, and Spirit was trying to pry them up. He goaded her on, and she laughed as she lost her grip on the stubborn fruit.

Fairy’s chest hurt. She had wanted to be the first to play with gravity with him.

Spirit tried again, and this time, Wolf released his hold on the crab apple at the same moment, so that Spirit used entirely too much force. The momentum threw her sideways into him, and she knocked him over with her, both of them falling to the ground in a tangle of limbs and hysteria. Their laughter filled the orchard.

It was then that Wolf saw Fairy and Broomstick.

“Um, we didn’t know you two were back,” he said, scrambling to his feet.

Fairy tried to give a nonchalant shrug. “We just got here.”

Spirit, who hadn’t yet caught on to the awkwardness, sprang to her feet with the crab apple in her hand. “Any luck with the soul pearl?”

“I’ll fill you in,” Broomstick said. He gave a meaningful look to Fairy; he was giving her space alone with Wolf, because he knew they needed to talk.

“Thank you,” Fairy whispered as he led Spirit elsewhere.

Wolf approached Fairy slowly, like he knew something was wrong, but he wasn’t sure what, so he was applying an abundance of caution. “Did I mess up?”

Fairy shook her head. She reached up and cupped his cheek. “You didn’t mess anything up. But I realized you’re not really mine.”

“What do you mean?” Wolf’s eyebrows knit together. “Of course I’m yours.”

“You are, right now.” She attempted a small smile so he’d know she wasn’t accusing him of anything. “But there’s something between you and Spirit that I can’t compete with.”

Wolf clasped Fairy’s hand, pressing it harder into the scruff of his cheek. “I swear there’s not. She’s my gemina.”

“You called out to her while you were unconscious,” Fairy said softly.

The blood drained from his face, and he dropped his hand to his side. “Gods, I’m sorry. I promise I’m not leading you on. It’s just that . . . Sora and me . . . I’m sorry.” He brought his hands back up to his temples. “I like you so much.”