“They were waiting for me when I drove in, like last night,” Erin said.

“No.”

“They took me to the big house,” she said.

“To the leadership?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Elijah? Valefor?”

“To the elders, in the sitting room. They told me I’m to marry.”

Rain swallowed hard.

Erin put her hand forward. When she pulled it back, two simple golden bands were left on the dark wool blanket Rain kept at the foot of the bed.

“They’re giving me to you,” she said, her voice lacking inflection. “If—”

“Erin.”

“If you want me.”

“Not like this.”

“Can you hear me out? Can you let me talk? Because I’ve been sitting here for hours. They took me to my house, they made me change. When I wasn’t dressed how they thought I should dress, they went through my room and picked this out. This isn’t my choice, so you know.”

“I don’t—”

“Hear me out? Please. Before you say anything and I lose all composure. I know you’ve helped me out a ton, and I’ve helped you out, but can you do this for me? Let me talk?”

Rain nodded.

“I want to do this. I want to—I want you. Please. I thought about it and I’ve been thinking about it as a just-in-case. They asked me at the big house, they said Mama Mathers wanted to pair you and me, and they asked what I wanted, if it were to happen. There’s this dilapidated house I think it could be fixed up nice and expanded to be a proper house. It’s on the outskirts, near the old gate. It’d be ours. For us.”

“Erin—”

“And my parents could move in. I want them away from everything, not so involved and tied in. They’ll make them move, and they’ll start being more rational if there aren’t those influences. You and I together. I know you don’t want to stay, but we’d barely be part of the community, that far out.”

“I can’t.”

“Listen,” she said. She stood from the bed, and he looked away as he realized how short the nightie was. She scooped up the rings and held them in cupped hands. “Listen. Please listen. I only liked you as a friend, before. But a few days ago, you gave me a hug, and it was nice. I started thinking, if it had to be someone, I wanted it to be you. Once I started thinking like that, I started thinking about how you looked nice. Kind of 90’s bad boy, with the long hair, ripped jeans and flannel, very Bender in Breakfast Club, except you’re way more attractive than Nick Cage.”

“You’re rambling, and—”