“What? Kayla, that doesn’t make sense. Why wouldn’t we tell—”I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. “I just think it would be better if we pursued this... independently.”Henry stared at me, confused. “Does this have something to do with the tension between you two? Ava mentioned—”“It has
KaylaI stepped up to the registration table. “Kayla Reynolds,” I said, not that I needed to tell him who I was. And I hated the sound of Nicholas’s name attached to mine.The clerk, a young man with a clipboard and a faint scar across his brow, blinked at me. He hesitated, his pen hovering over the
“Maybe she’s just here to pick flowers,” the other girl giggled.I kept walking, my jaw clenched, my eyes fixed on the tree line ahead. I could feel their stares, their judgment, their disbelief. But I didn’t care. Let them laugh. Let them doubt. I didn’t need their approval. I had decided to do thi
KaylaI didn’t want Nora anywhere near me, let alone sitting at the fire I’d worked so hard to build. But something about the way she just stood there, staring at me with her arms crossed and her expression unreadable, made me hesitate. Maybe it was the exhaustion from the day, or the cold that had
KaylaI immediately began tracking the stag, following the trail that had started with those droppings.It wasn’t long before I found something else—a tree with its bark scraped on one side. Chunks of bark were scattered around, sitting on top of the snow.It was snowing a little right now, just a d
The next morning, I woke up early, the cold air biting at my skin and my legs aching from yesterday’s exertion. I broke down my makeshift camp once more and set off into the woods, once again searching for the stag.I moved quickly, my eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the stag. I heard a scuf
NicholasI never would have admitted it, not to anyone or even myself, but I spent three days straight thinking of nothing but Kayla.The moment she walked into the forest, wearing nothing but some practical training gear with only a flint and steel kit in her pocket, her head held high despite the
And although it was bitterly cold out today, with the feast being held outside no less, all of the torches and fire pits scattered around the gathering area kept me warm enough that I’d even removed my jacket some time ago.Jade shook her head and took a seat next to me, perching on the edge of the
Was it true that Nicholas had laughed in her face when she confessed her feelings? Was he truly that heartless, even back then? Was it true that Nora thought she was doing me a favor by trying to break us up, by showing me that audio clip?I didn’t think Nora could ever be my friend, not by a long s
KaylaI stared at the deer turning on the spit, its skin turned red and glistening with fat as the fire cooked it from beneath. The air smelled like roasting meat, mingling with the scent of fresh bread and mulled cider.I was starving and surrounded by food that looked utterly delicious, and yet my
Before I could protest further, Nicholas whisked me off my feet, gathering me in his arms like I was as light as a feather. He strode quickly toward the edge of the forest—I was surprised to find that we weren’t nearly as far as I thought we were this whole time—and then veered toward the house.“I’
KaylaI stared wide-eyed down at Nora’s unmoving body, at the pool of blood forming around her abdomen. She coughed and sputtered, eyes glazed over, already worlds away from this place by the time I found her.The warrior said that he had accidentally pushed her too hard during a spar, and she fell
And although it was bitterly cold out today, with the feast being held outside no less, all of the torches and fire pits scattered around the gathering area kept me warm enough that I’d even removed my jacket some time ago.Jade shook her head and took a seat next to me, perching on the edge of the
NicholasI never would have admitted it, not to anyone or even myself, but I spent three days straight thinking of nothing but Kayla.The moment she walked into the forest, wearing nothing but some practical training gear with only a flint and steel kit in her pocket, her head held high despite the
The next morning, I woke up early, the cold air biting at my skin and my legs aching from yesterday’s exertion. I broke down my makeshift camp once more and set off into the woods, once again searching for the stag.I moved quickly, my eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the stag. I heard a scuf
KaylaI immediately began tracking the stag, following the trail that had started with those droppings.It wasn’t long before I found something else—a tree with its bark scraped on one side. Chunks of bark were scattered around, sitting on top of the snow.It was snowing a little right now, just a d
KaylaI didn’t want Nora anywhere near me, let alone sitting at the fire I’d worked so hard to build. But something about the way she just stood there, staring at me with her arms crossed and her expression unreadable, made me hesitate. Maybe it was the exhaustion from the day, or the cold that had