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I thought again of her wading through the marsh–her boot missing, hemline heavy with mud, and eyes wide with fear. In that moment, I desperately wanted to protect my stolen human bride. I wanted to clutch her against my chest until her racing heart quieted. I also wanted to rip the Unseelie Queen apart limb by limb and scatter her to the winds, so her spirit of chaos could never reform. Of course, any act of open violence would have ignited a war.
Harry considered. "How old was Georgia when her mother passed? Perhaps too young to learn witchcraft. Still, it runs through her veins. That’s something."
It was something, but was it enough to save us both?
The unseelie would unseat me, and they would destroy everything in their path–the island and her kingdom too.
CHAPTER 16
The Stolen Bride
As always, Forrest was not at breakfast the following morning. So rude. But he had left a small note under my tea cup.
Little Sparrow,
Meet me in my study tomorrow, an hour past sunset. A late dinner will be served immediately afterward. Don’t be late, and do try not to get yourself killed before then.
Forrest
More rudeness. Didn’t the Fae King possess an ounce of manners? Though I had to admit what he lacked in manners was made up for in successful rescue attempts.
How many times had he saved me now?
Then again, he had dragged me into this danger. If it weren’t for him, I would be safely at home, preparing for another ill-fated ball. I would be dancing with dignitaries and royals thrice my age. None with a body like Forrest. I remembered how it felt to be pressed against his hard chest with one warm arm encircling my waist as we rode home last night.
I blushed. Maybe harrowing life-or-death experiences were underrated…
Only an hour had passed since breakfast, but I felt restless. Ordinarily, I would wander, searching for my sister, but I wasn’t ready to return to the woods again. Not yet. Not with the memory of the Unseelie Queen so fresh on my mind.
Still, I had to do something. There were many hours until my meeting with the Fae King, and I wasn’t sure how to fill them. The truth was… I wasn’t accustomed to having free time.
At home, my days had been rigidly scheduled. I had formal meals, took lessons, practiced my lute, helped Magnolia with her schoolwork, engaged in social events, and entertained the wives and daughters of important political visitors. It was also socially necessary for me to change my clothes and hair at least twice per day.
I hardly had time to breathe.
My favorite moments were the ones where I was able to sneak in little things like reading or strolling the gardens with Magnolia.
Throughout my entire life, someone had always been in my ear, telling me what to do next. Here, the Fae King and his sparse staff seemed content to allow me to fill my days as I wished.
It was a terrific burden. Without my duty to my crown, father, and younger sister, I scarcely knew what to do with myself. I had never been permitted to choose how to spend my time before.
I realized I didn’t know how. Who was I without my duty? What did I want out of my life? How did I want to spend my days? They were important questions, ones I had never considered before.
Perhaps, I could start soon.
But only after I found my sister, Briar, and made my family whole again.
I decided to go to the place where I always found answers–the library. Not Forrest’s private study, comfortable as it was, but the proper royal library.
Surely, they had one.
Without another moment’s hesitation, I tucked Forrest's Book of Iron under my arm and went to find Harry. I would need directions.
After searching the dining room, I found him in the entry hall with one hand on the door.
"Harry," I called out.
He turned, and I noticed worry lines on his face.
