he wished that she didn't have to come along, but unfortunately, that's not how it turned out, so all Nikolai could do is just glare at Rosalie. Lukey, an excellent cook by the way, made them fruit salad with the berries they've collected along the path.

Lukey had to retrieve their glasses back from a very sophisticated squirrel, so it left the three. Elaina looked at them. "So... I've been meaning to ask: what's with you two?" their question caught Nikolai off guard. "What do you mean?" he asked. "You guys are like mortal enemies. Why? Did one of you curse the other? Did you kill the others' mortal parent? Are you guys exes? Telllllllll meeeeeeee."

"None of the above." he said, not looking up from his makeshift bowl of fruit salad. "To summarize, we went to the same middle school, and during the fall we attend the same high school. He's a dick. End of discussion." Rosalie said. "Hm. yeah no, I'm a child of the god of merchants but I'm not buying this." Elaina noted.

"that's literally it." Nikolai said, growing frustrated. "You guys are worse liars than Lara." Elaina commented, their eyes fixated on their dagger. "fine.. its a long story.."