its quirky residents, and unraveling its secrets. But today, she was determined to uncover more about the enigmatic Ryan. As she strolled through the town square, Avery noticed a group of loc

re. As the morning wore on, Avery found herself laughing and joking with the group, feeling an effortless connection with the Ravenswood locals. Ryan, in particular, seemed to be making a concerted effort to include her in the conversation, his eyes sparkling with warmth whenever their gazes met. "Hey, Avery, want to grab some lunch with us?" Emily asked, breaking into Avery's reverie. "We're heading to Matt's café – best burgers in town!" Avery's stomach growled at the mention of food, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds amazing, thank you for inviting me!" As they strolled toward the café, Ryan fell into step beside Avery, his long strides matching hers easily. "So, Avery, what do you think of Ravenswood so far?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. Avery felt a flutter in her chest at the proximity of Ryan's voice, his words sending shivers down her spine. "It's... enchanting," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Everyone's so friendly and welcoming." Ryan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "We Ravenswood folk are a pretty special bunch," he said, his gaze holdi

look stunning." Avery felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she smiled back at him. "Thanks," she said. "You don't look so bad yourself." Ryan chuckled and offered her his arm. "Shall we?" he asked. Avery nodded, taking his arm as they walked to his car. The drive to the Italian restaurant was short and sweet, the conversation flowing easily between them. As they sat down at their table, Avery couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. She had never felt such a strong connection with someone before, and she couldn't wait to see where things might go. The dinner was delicious, the conversation flowing easily between them. Avery found herself laughing and smiling more than she had in weeks, feeling a sense of joy and happiness that she hadn't felt in a long time. As the night wore on, Avery found herself feeling more and more drawn to Ryan. She loved the way he made her laugh, the w

ut also of curiosity. "Why?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why would someone kill my parents?" Ryan's grip on her hand tightened. "They were king and queen, Avery," he said. "They ruled with kindness and justice, but there were those who sought to overthrow them. They were betrayed, and... and they were killed." Avery felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as Ryan's words brought back fragmented memories. She remembered the sound of screams, of horses' hooves pounding against the ground, of a warm hand grasping hers. "But you, Avery," Ryan continued, his voice filled with emotion. "You were saved. Someone risked their life to get you out of the kingdom, to keep you safe." Avery's eyes met Ryan's, and she felt a surge of gratitude toward this stranger who had saved her life. "Who?" s

y, what are you talking about?" But Avery was beyond listening. She was consumed by memories, fragmented and unclear, but memories nonetheless. She remembered the feel of the box in her hands, the weight of it, the strange symbol etched onto its lid. She remembered the sound of her parents' voices, urging her to run, to hide. And she remembered the kingdom, the wicked kingdom that had killed her parents and left her for dead. Avery's eyes snapped back into focus, and she looked at Ryan with a newfound determination. "I'm not going back," she said. "I'm not going back to that kingdom." Ryan's expression softened. "Avery, you don't have to," he said. "You're safe now." But Avery shook her head. "No, I'm not safe," she said. "They're looking for me. They're tryin

ice filled with wonder. "Why did you help me?" Ryan's eyes never left hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "I just felt something," he said. "I didn't know what it was, but I knew I had to help you." Avery's heart swelled with emotion, her eyes filling with tears. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. Ryan's lips brushed against hers, sending shivers down her spine. "You're welcome," he said, his voice filled with emotion. As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Avery knew that she had found her soulmate. She was grateful for that night, grateful that Ryan had found her and brought her in. And as they stood there, Avery knew that she would never let Ryan go. She was exactly whe