ex

nd Mrs. Jones stand there, tears in their eyes. I feel like a

back t

ll the stew," I say with a smile. "I'll

er and kisses my cheek. "I'll... sav

"I love you, too, Mother." I k

e kind of nice to get to see the fancy castle. They used to have grand balls t

c, and I appreciate it, but

jumping. Mrs. Jones takes a deep brea

ly, shaking his head. Turning to me, he ad

rvey from his study so that now there are two people I don't want to see here. They shake hands and

not a good match for Garth. Perhaps the king wi

o my throat. I peer out the window as Mother's sh

rs come out of their houses and stand along the cobblestone road, trying to get

ring a suit with his dark hair slicked back. Massive shoulders and muscular arms tell me t

hisper to Fiona. "

ees the king anymore," she mutte

footman accompanies the gentleman to the door and knocks for

face, his green eyes gleam

do is no

to the castle." He seems polite and kind, and with such empathy i

the wall. "And just who may you be?" His voice is authoritative, as

d be bigger than Garth. He clears his throat, but his charming disposition doesn't waiver. "I'm an advisor to the

. Lake's hand. "I'm Garth R

er gasp behind me, and Harvey chuckles low in his throat as if h

looks at me. "We have no record of

and I get the feeling that, somehow, M

ngaged last night," Garth replies, folding hi

ll, I'm afraid anything that hasn't been filed with the proper

pect for me to make her my bride af

has no problem whatsoever speaking ill of the king. That's one thing behind closed doors, possibly e

le, but I can assure all of you that no defiling is about to happen." When his eyes reach mine,

plodes from his chest. "You

ts and stomps its foot. That's not a coincidence. Animals can sense human emotion, and this one knows there's an iss

, you know! Does he understand what everyone is sa

Lake's arm tense under my hand. "Plea

pound him in the face, Mr.

see my mother and Fiona weeping and waving. I lift a hand and manage a smile, but the fear I've fel

he directs me inside of the carriage. I sit on one side, and he manages

eams royalty. Ornate gold scrollwork climbs the walls. It's beautiful and comfor

the curtain and look back at Mother and the others, but I don't. I

by the way his shoulders slump that he doesn't enjoy being the one to come and collect the women. I'm honest

then. "I'm sorry-about Garth," I stutter, wanting to pour everything out to him but

days. You will get the opportunity to see why. However, I'm afraid it won't last long. W

gth of my spine. "Ho

adens. "We ha

it h

thing painful or uncomfortable will happen to you. Well, not phys

nly imagine what kind of wildlife we might see out the window as we approach the forest. It is da

a w

o do in your free t

ike animals," I tell him, and he nods as if he somehow a

make a career out of that one day?" Unl

s firm more and more recently. I don't mind working with numb

ord like we both understand that's

Other than call me

imagine many a woman doing all she

local hunter and also owns a farm and some other businesses. I hone

nding. "He seems cl

, well, about a year, but most of the villagers have grown up together, attending the same schools and such. I have struggled to make friends. Other than Fiona." He continues to nod as I talk about how we moved to Luna Hollow because m

tone. "And you're not rambling. All of that is qui

o know, but I tell him about the kingdom I grew up in. "The king died b

realize he already kno

so much. I'm not sure what will happen when she passes away." He only shrugs. I decide it's time to stop talking

father's paren

s have a large forest behind their property. So of course I loved that. Grandpa would go out with me some

"Do you remember muc

n share with this man, but the