yet everything I should have known she would be as well. She is bea

ay she holds herself. Most women would cower before me a

," I whisper a

n though she doesn't know it yet. Her father, who is standing beside me, looks shocked and almos

s elsewhere. My eyes are locked on the little sprite in

it is time for us to go. Your father said he will send your thi

ce that makes me giddy. Most would be trembling by now an

ld be controlled by anyone. No, she is a force all her own

ubtle movement, only to realize I need a diff

entity concealed. "I think you can take a few hours to pack some more thi

nd walk back through the

e her there now," her father says as h

sn't expected yet. Let her pack a dece

door behind me. Her father doesn't even know what I look lik

te me. I feel as if I might lose it right here and now. He has not shown th

to him. What kind of fathe

ut why do I feel

before she'll be here and I will need to prepare a little more

try to steady my thoughts on the way home. The engine hums beneat

ind of

but I don't understand

ust another piece in the game I have long been playing. Yet for some reason, the way her father does

powerful families hand over their children as bargaining chips when

about her and the fire in her eyes that tear

irely that makes me want

home and keep going. No matter how hard I try to shake the thoughts, they won't leave. They wrap themselves

, Blackwood," I

to care about. The only thing she is

her. It is like a knot in my chest and I have this

verything I have built or be my s

ng driveway leading to the estate. The house looms in the

ve to be for the

, I can almost taste the tension building in the a

or, Simon is already

nfusion crossing his features. "Where is

home for the next two hours, then I'll send someone to get her.

u and save us another trip?" He asks,

ay without offering

etter and knows me entirely too well. He falls in

e fortress that is cold, empty, and dark. But t

which is something unfamiliar and I ca

because the prophecy waits for no on

ing you after her in two ho

ng beside me. "Do they even know

lips. "No, but I guess she'll be i