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Adair stood under the shade of the trees, dappled in sunlight.
My heart surged. Rage and fear and all the things I hadn’t allowed myself to feel boiled from within.
“Val?” Elisabeth’s cry rang out, yanking me to a halt.
I glanced behind me and saw her hurrying up the path. She’d hiked her white skirts to keep the wedding dress from dragging in the dirt.
“What are you doing? We’re waiting for you.”
“He’s here.” I turned back, hand raised to point, but Adair had gone. “I saw…” I staggered toward the grave. The grass hadn’t been flattened. Nobody had stood at the graveside for months. “I saw him. I swear, Elisabeth. He was right there.”
Her brow pinched, and she glanced at the angel. “Val, what is happening here?”
“I swear, I saw him, a fae—I mean, a man from my dreams. He was here.”
“Fae?”
Why had I said it? Why was I even here, losing my mind all over again, seeing ghosts and dreams? “I know it sounds crazy. By God, I know! But you said I was bespelled. And you’re right. And this—” I pulled the mechanical bird from my pocket. “You see? This proves it was all real.”
“A toy bird?” she asked. Every word that left my lips had deepened her frown. But she had to know, and if she thought me mad for it, so be it.
“Devere is the man—” I choked off the words.He’s a dream that’s real, and he’s the man I love.
I was about to marry her. This wasn’t the time or the place to proclaim my love for another, especially a man. Or perhaps this was exactly the right time—while the wedding could still be stopped.
“Devere?” She glanced at the grave. “The toymaker’s child?”
“I’m sorry. You think me mad? And gods, perhaps I am and always have been.”
“Val.” She stepped closer and took my hand in hers. “It’s all right if you don’t want to do this.”
“No, I… I’m just… anxious. That’s all. I’m sorry. What am I thinking?” I laughed nervously. “I had a dream, and for a moment, it seemed so real, but it was just a dream.” Another laugh. This was terrible. She was so kind, and I was letting her down. We were to marry, and that was that. I could not go back on my word. I might not be the self-made gentleman I’d dreamed of, but I still had my honor.
“My apologies.” I took her hand, scooped her arm under mine, and marched us down the path toward the church. “Please forget everything that just happened.”
A few of the townsfolk had turned out in their best clothing, and even the sun shone down on us, not a snowflake or gust of wind in sight. The fae weren’t here. Of course they weren’t. No rational man would think that.
More of the town’s people crowded inside, so many that my steps almost faltered. They were surely here for Elisabeth.
A mighty organ blasted the entrance music, and all present stood from their pews in a great rustle of clothing.
I was to be married this day.
Elisabeth smiled over and expectations carried me down the aisle, one polished shoe in front of the other. My heart thumped so loudly, beating in my ears. We stopped in front of the altar and the priest.
Goodness, it was hot.
The bird remained a heavy, very real weight in my pocket. The bird given to me by Devere, who didn’t exist.
The priest spoke of love and commitment, of honoring each other, and of trials that we’d endure. He spoke of how love was sometimes a test, but also a partnership. I’d lived a hundred lifetimes with Devere, over and over. Laughed with him, cried with him. Made love with him. He’d revealed his heart in a kiss. I wished I’d shown him mine.
I swallowed, trying to clear the sharp knot in my throat.
This was wrong, wasn’t it? I couldn’t make another mistake. I loved Devere. The prickly, downright rude, socially inept toymaker’s son. I loved him for who he was, not what he was. We’d made the most terrible of mistakes, and we’d hurt each other over and over, but it hurtbecausewe loved. We’d been trapped, cursed, and I knew he’d done terrible things, but so had I.
By God, what was I doing?
“I can’t do this,” I whispered.
