I took a deep breath as I jogged through the orchard. I knew Petunia was around here somewhere. It was early, but this was her domain. During my runs through here in cougar form, I'd noticed that her scent was strongest near the apple trees, so I headed there at an easy jog in my human form. I'd find her faster as a cat, but I needed to talk to her, and she always seemed uncomfortable when I was naked. My cat huffed in laughter.

As I grew closer I noticed one of the trees ahead shook like a nervous, giggling girl. A flash of tightly pulled back silver hair glinted on the other side of the tree. Petunia Greenhaven strolled toward me, although she hadn't noticed me yet. Each tree subtly bowed toward her as she walked by them, as if trying to reach out and touch her, and slowly raised back up when she passed.

The fae reached out her hands and gently brushed the trunks of the trees as she moved. Her eyes eventually found their way to me, glowing brightly. It was a shock to the system. Alex's eyes glowed like that, but nowhere near as strong as hers. I understood that only the eyes of the full-blooded fae glowed that brilliantly.

Her peaceful expression faded and was replaced by one of annoyance.

"What do you want? More scratching posts? I think you have quite enough."

I held back a chuckle as I glanced at one of the posts several feet away. "No, thank you."

She frowned deeply. "Then why, pray tell, are you here?"

"Can't I simply come and pay my neighbor a visit?"

"Not at the crack of dawn, you can't." Her voice was sharp enough to cut as she carefully enunciated each word. "Furthermore, it is considered polite to call ahead and schedule these things."

I bit back my laughter. I could never tell if Petunia was teasing me or not. Since I was here to beg for a favor, it was in my best interest not to irritate her any more than I already had.

"Sorry about that, but I needed to catch you before you became otherwise occupied."

Her amber gaze never left me, even as a tree branch reached out and gently brushed her arm. She patted it, like a parent would comfort a child, and the branch straightened up.

"Do they do that all the time?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"Is that the purpose of your visit? To discuss my flora?"

I shook my head and pulled myself back to the purpose of coming here. If anything, her voice was getting colder. I had no idea that could happen.

I thought she perpetually spoke in icy tones, but she apparently had levels of frigid. I'd better get to the point before she put me in a deep freeze.

"I need to discuss flora, but not yours. Actually, the acquisition of said flora." My cat was highly amused as I found myself matching the tone of her dialogue.

I felt like I was talking with a very proper language professor. Or like I'd fallen into a scene in Alice in Wonderland. I halfway expected a giant caterpillar smoking a pipe to ask me who I was.

"What flora are you attempting to acquire, and why does it necessitate seeking my assistance?"

Her question sobered my mood. During my jog over here, I thought about what to say. How much to tell her. As I looked into her eyes, my careful speech flew out of my head. Suddenly I regretted disturbing her. This was a stupid idea.

"It's about my grandson, isn't it?"

My eyes widened. Was I that obvious?

"Yes, how did—"

"Let me guess," she interrupted, a calculating look in her eye. "For some inane reason, you pushed him away. Given you are a shifter, it probably had something to do with his inability to grow fangs and claws. Tell me, how close am I?"

My jaw dropped in surprise. A small smile curved her mouth. I thought I might pass out from shock. What was going on? Had I actually fallen down a rabbit hole? Petunia Greenhaven did not smile.

"I've lived many years and have seen many things." She looked off in the direction of the Greenhaven house. "I have made idiotic decisions of my own and had to make amends."

"I . . ."

I had no idea what to say as I watched her fondly stare ahead, a faint smile lingering on her face.

She suddenly turned her attention back to me, her icy expression back in place and one eyebrow raised. "Now, tell me, what do you need to make your amends?"

* * *

I nervously bounced on my toes as I watched the horizon, my stomach in knots. I had sent Alex a text to meet me at my house just before sundown. I had been filled with relief when he agreed, but now the wait was killing me.

"Would you sit down already?" Aly groused from the couch. "You're making me nervous and I don't have any reason to be."

"Oh, hush," I said with a small grin. She was reading a magazine, but I hadn't heard her flip a page for over five minutes. When I glanced over at her, she was staring out the window, too.

"Will the sun never set?" she whined.

"I thought I was the one who was nervous," I said with my attention back at the window.

"Yeah, okay. So maybe it's, like, contagious or something. You're getting your nerve-cooties all over me."

That was when I heard a faint rumble in the distance. Aly and I both went still at the same time, straining our ears. There was no mistaking the sound of the vehicle. Alex's vehicle. I whipped my head around to face my sister and she grinned at me.

"Showtime. Good luck, Soph."

"Thanks," I replied. I noticed the faint tremble in my voice. I couldn't believe my nerves.

With a deep breath, I opened the front door as Alex pulled into my driveway. This time, he managed to park next to my car instead of behind it. Excellent. I watched him intently as he walked around his truck, then abruptly stopped.

He looked around my yard, and I watched as his gaze bounced from one potted plant to the next. I stood on my porch, fidgeting with my fingers and tapping my thighs. I didn't know what to do with my hands anymore. Is this what nerves were like? I hated it.

"Sophie," he said, his confusion evident, "what's with all the plants? I just did your landscaping. Is this your way of saying you don't—"

"It's a game," I blurted out as I forced myself to be still. This was too important for me to mess up. "Can you identify all the plants in the pots?"

I'd spent the afternoon running all over Fayoak and even farther out, picking up five-gallon pots, bags of soil, and all sorts of unique plants. It turned out asking Petunia for help had been the best idea I ever had.

She had some suggestions on some of the plants I should get, and even gifted me a plant from her private collection. I'd despaired getting it all pulled together, but then a few of her workers had shown up to help me get all the plants ready.

"Uhh, yeah," Alex's gaze locked on a container at the end of my driveway, "I think so. Why do you have a pot of poison ivy?" He looked at me and continued, "You do know that's poison ivy, don't you?"

I nodded and burst into a grin. "Yep. I do."

"Sophie, people don't put poison ivy in pots. Have you lost it?"

"Hush, I'll explain in due time. First, answer my question. Can you name all of the plants?"

He shrugged. "I'd need to touch each one to be sure, but probably."

"Okay, so you don't need to see them? Can we finish the game after dark?"

My excitement seemed to infect him and he smiled despite his confusion. My heart melted as I saw it was his real smile and not that fake one he put on for show. But I saw the wariness in his gaze, too. I hated that I put that look there in the first place. Hopefully, tonight would put that to rest.

"Yeah, sure, we can finish after dark. Mind telling me what's going on though?"

"In the car," I said. "We're going on a short trip."

"Sophie," he hesitated, "I don't understand."

"Please, just get in the car."

"Are you kidnapping me?" he asked with a laugh as he opened the door and got in, clicking his seat belt into place.

I stopped him before he could close the door.

"Pretty much," I said as I pulled a long black piece of cloth out from the back of my belt where I'd tucked it.

His eyes gleamed. "You know, I can think of a better use for a strip of cloth."

"I'm sure you can. But for now, it goes over your eyes. I don't want to give away my surprise." I rolled it up so it made a long, thin strip.

He grinned and leaned forward so I could tie the blindfold on.

"Sophie," he purred as his hand gently touched my wrist in a light caress.

"Alexander Greenhaven," I said in a stern voice that had his hand freeze in place, "you will behave yourself. At least, for now."

His hand resumed its movement, but I slowly drew away. I hesitated a moment. We could throw my plans out the window. I could show him how I appreciate him in so many other ways.

I shook my head. No, I had to do this. I had to make amends, as Petunia had so aptly put it earlier.

I got in the driver's seat and started the car. As I backed out of the driveway, I glanced over at Alex and smiled. This was going to be so much fun.

"So, are you going to tell me where we're headed?"

"Nope."

"What if I guess?"

I grinned. "Okay, go for it. It has to be something I can answer with a yes or no though."

Alex laughed. "Game on."

As we drove, he tossed out question after question. I always answered no, even to the ones he was correct on. Before long he started to get suspicious, and I was glad our destination was close.

"Are you answering every question with a no?"

"Oh, look," I said cheerfully as I parked, "game's over. We're here."

"I can take off my blindfold?"

"No! Not yet."

He sighed dramatically but kept his hands folded in his lap. "Fine, but know that every second I'm blindfolded, I'm thinking of new and creative ways to make you squirm."

I laughed as I got out of the car. I reached his door and opened it. He sat there, his seat belt still on, hands folded in his lap.

"Unbuckle," I said. "We're here."

He shrugged and grinned. "I can't see. You covered my eyes, so you'll have to free me."

"You call this behaving?"

His grin was unrepentant. "Nope. Never said I would, either."

I laughed and leaned over him to hit the button. He took in a deep breath and nuzzled my neck as I leaned against him.

"Alex," I groaned, "you need to behave."

"No promises."

"Come on. Out of the car with you." I put my hand on the top of his head so he wouldn't knock himself as he got out, then nudged him to the side so I could close it.

I took his hand in mine to lead him and he started to rub his thumb in slow circles over my skin. I bit down on my lower lip—he could make the tiniest act feel so sensual.

"I think I like this," he said, satisfaction evident in his tone. "I should always wear a blindfold."

"Alex," I said, exasperated. "Behave."

He gave my hand a squeeze. "Believe me, I am."

I led us to the entrance of the Arboretum, excitement bubbling inside me. I met the gaze of the woman on the other side of the glass door. She grinned and nodded a greeting.

Silently, she opened the door for me. The Arboretum was usually only open during daylight hours.

Luckily for me, I had delivered the general manager's grandchild and had gotten to know the family before the baby's birth. When I called her this morning, she had been happy to help me out. We took two steps inside and Alex suddenly halted, his hand gripping mine.

"Sophie, where are we?"

"You'll see," I said.

"We're somewhere with a lot of plants. I can feel them. The only place I've been that felt like this was . . ."

"Just wait," I said keeping my voice light. "A little bit longer and you can remove your blindfold."

He lightly squeezed my hand as he moved with me. I could feel his excitement growing. We left the main building and moved into the Japanese Garden. I stopped, and Alex froze beside me. Soft string music floated through the air, joined by a flute.

"Sophie, can you take off my blindfold now?"

I sighed. "I feel like you're going to do it if I don't."

"That's a distinct possibility."

I smiled as I reached up and undid the knot. When I moved the cloth from his eyes, he blinked and looked around.

I followed his gaze as he took everything in. We stood at the entrance of the Japanese Garden. Moon lanterns hung above us, providing soft light. To the right, a man and a woman played the gentle melody floating through the air.

"What? How . . .?" Alex looked at me with furrowed brows.

"I missed going to the Moon Festival with you," I said softly.

"Why didn't you come?" he asked, his voice so unusually neutral that it alarmed me.

I opened my mouth and froze. Everything had happened so quickly. My fight with Edward. Rescuing my sister. I completely forgot to explain why I didn't show up that night. Had he been carrying that this whole time? I felt a sting of guilt.

"Alex, I'm so sorry," I began. "I truly planned to come with you. But then I ran into Emery, George, and Nadine and they said something that made me realize Edward was here, stalking me. I panicked. That was when I told you to stay away. I didn't want him to hurt you, too."

"Sophie . . ."

"Now we're here, tonight. I know it doesn't completely make up for it, but—"

"No. It's perfect."

The understanding in his eyes filled me with relief.

"How did you even make this happen?" he asked. "The Moon Festival already ended."

I grinned. "I have my ways."

I linked my fingers with his as we explored the softly lit garden together, the music flowing around us. It became a magical realm where only the two of us existed. All the plants jogged my memory of something I had seen this morning at Alex's place.

"You know," I said suddenly. "I was looking at those plants on your windowsill before I left."

"Oh?"

"They were all beautiful, but I was wondering why you haven't grown that one"

"The peony?"

"Is that what it was?"

"Mhm." He met my gaze, then glanced away, and I saw embarrassment in his eyes. "I was thinking of you when I found that seed. When I touched it, I knew it was special. But it was sick. It needed special care to thrive."

My lips curved as I saw the parallel. When he started showing up, I was hurt and wounded—not physically, but emotionally.

"I'm glad you took such good care of it."

He smiled, and my heart was so full that for a moment I couldn't breathe.

We walked in comfortable silence on the dirt path surrounded by tall bamboo. The path turned and the thick wall of bamboo cleared. A pair of trees I'd never seen before stood sentinel ahead. They were about ten feet tall, and the leaves were bright red and as big as my palm.

"What are those?" I asked Alex.

"Japanese maple trees."

When I glanced over at him, I caught my breath. His expression was relaxed, serene.

"You really like it here, don't you?"

"The plants are so happy. And I have you here beside me. That's what makes this place even more special. These are special, too." Alex reached out and gently brushed one of the Japanese maples with his hand. "They always have red leaves."

"They're beautiful."

He looked over at me, his usual grin sliding into place. "Not nearly as beautiful as you."

I knew he really meant it, but it was so cheesy I couldn't resist a tiny eyeroll. "Oh, spare me—"

Alex stopped walking to tug me in close, cutting off my protest with a quick kiss. When he pulled away, I was smiling. I pushed lightly against his chest with a laugh.

"You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Ridiculously charming?"

"Sure, why not?"

We shared a grin as we started walking down the path again. Nearby, I could hear the soft burble of a stream. It came into view as the path we were on led us to a bridge spanning the stream. The small sign next to it said it was the moon bridge.

We walked onto it, the logs creaking beneath our feet. Alex tugged me to a stop when we reached the center of the bridge. I looked at him and he pointed to the pond below us.

"Look, there, at the lotus."

I followed his gaze but only saw lily pads with closed flowers. I was about to ask Alex what I was looking for when, one by one, several slowly started to open.

"Are you doing that?" I whispered in wonder.

A smile of joy lit his face and he shrugged. "Sort of. This is the time of day when they bloom, but I may have helped encourage them to open now instead of later."

I shook my head in wonder. Silence fell between us as we enjoyed the magic of the moment.

"I'm glad we made it," I said.

"Me too."

"So, remember the plants at my place?"

"Yeah, I've been itching to ask you about them."

I turned to face him and his smile faded as he met my serious expression.

"Did you figure out what they all are?"

He nodded. "The stinging needles and cacti were easy to figure out. One of them threw me for a bit though. Did I see a gympie-gympie tree?"

I smiled. "You did. I wasn't sure if you'd get that one."

"Yeah, well, Granny has this weird fascination with them and has several in her private greenhouse. When I was young, I quickly learned not to mess with those things. Luckily, our plant magic is able to neutralize their poison. Why do you have one? Actually, why did you get any of those?"

"Alex, my life is dangerous," I said. I saw the alarm in his eyes and hurried to finish, rushing my words together, "but life itself is dangerous. Those plants at my house are there for you."

"I don't understand," he said.

"You can use them to protect those you love. You may not have teeth and claws like I do, but those plants are your weapons."

His eyes grew wide and I saw hope bloom in them. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I love you, Alex." I bit my lip and searched his eyes. "I know you can protect me, just as I can protect you. I know we can make this work. Will you take me, thorns and all?"

His smile was blinding as he pulled me into his arms. He lowered his head to brush his lips against mine. "Sophie, I wouldn't have you any other way. I love you, too."