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Joking aside, I know she’s safe with them. Even safer than she is with me right now, all things considered.

“You have to make sure no one sees you use the old tunnels. The queen still doesn’t know that’s how the princess escaped.”

“This isn’t my first rescue mission. We will have her out of the castle before you arrive back on the solstice.”

“No mirrors,” I remind them both, afraid the queen will be able to see them coming.

“Why are you both looking at me?” Bash looks from me to Lucien. “He’s the one always grooming himself.”

“We got it,” Lucien reassures me. “No mirrors.” I climb back up on the porch to watch them retreat back into the woods as the sunset steals the light from the sky.

“Who’s she?” a gruff voice pipes up from the doorway.

“What?” I turn to see Grumpy, one of Adelaide’s uncles, giving me side-eye from where he stands, blocking my entrance.

“Who is she?” he repeats.

“She is none of your business.” I don’t like his tone.

“As long as you’re sharing my niece’s bed, she is my business.” He uncrosses his arms to jab his thumbs toward his chest.

“Fine. She is my sister.” I brush past him, not bothering to look back. “And her life is in jeopardy because I defied the queen to help your niece.” I leave him standing there as I storm into the house to find Adelaide.

When I step into the house, the smell of roasted chicken hits me, followed by a memory of my own.

One of happier and far less complicated times when my father took me hunting, for sport, not for training. Birdy was only a toddler, but she sat with my mother on the floor of our cabin, picking the petals off flowers.

I hated him sometimes for not taking us with him to the castle. For leaving us in the cabin in the woods near my mother’s family. But soon enough, I knew why. He was protecting his family. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do with my sister… and Adelaide.

“There you are.” Her gentle voice greets me. I look up to see her and Happy dancing around the kitchen while Bashful stirs something over the hearth. “Supper is nearly ready.”

She seems so relaxed here, peaceful even. She traded her tattered ball gown for some dark leggings, covered by an oversized grey sweater cinched at the waist with a scrap piece of leather, no doubt belonging to one of her uncles. I can’t help but imagine what she would look like in my shirt, dancing around the kitchen with me as my eyes roam over her body, drinking her in like a man dying of thirst.

“Where is Grumpy?” she asks, looking around me. “We sent him to find you.”

“He found me. He’s on the porch.”

“Am not. I’m right here.” He pops up behind me. For a big guy, he’s pretty stealthy.

“What did the brothers want?” Adelaide asks. “They should have stayed for supper.”

“We have a lot to discuss, and they have something they have to take care of.” I smile.

“Something. Or someone?” Grumpy grumbles, low enough that only I can hear as he pulls out a chair and sits at the table all made up, complete with rose dishes and candles of various heights.

Taking the empty one right next to him, I meet his disapproving gaze with my own.

“I sent them with a basket of things,” Bashful announces.

“Thanks.” I nod, and he turns around, busying himself.

Adelaide takes the seat beside me, and we fill our plates while Happy grabs a jug of wine from the cupboard before filling our glasses generously.

“This is delicious!” Adelaide exclaims as we all dig in.

“It is,” I agree, tearing a piece off my fresh-baked bread to sop up some broth. “Even living in a castle with a cook, nothing beats a home-cooked meal like this.”

Feeling three sets of eyes on me, I look up, pausing with the bread halfway to my mouth.