"Oh," I said, looking around for Myla's tell-tale raven black curls. She was nowhere to be seen."Weren't you supposed to be meeting someone?" said the man, following my gaze as I scanned the ever-increasing crowd. "This is my friend's stall," I said, tapping my finger on the empty table. "I guess
"Hey!""What?" "What do you think you're doing?" I swatted his hand away, almost spilling the lemonade I was holding in the other hand. "Getting you out of this jacket?" he replied, giving me an incredulous look. "I can do it–""Just let me help you–" He reached down again, but I caught his hand
MaeveGemma placed the salve down on the vanity in front of me, wiping the greasy sheen off her fingers on the fabric of her skirt. "This stuff is so messy.""I don't think I need it—"Gemma grabbed my shoulders and turned me toward the mirror of my vanity, her face hovering above mine in the reflec
I blanched. I hadn't thought about Aaron all day, not after meeting the man in the market."Oh Gemma, did he tell you who it is?" I asked, turning in my stool to face her. I leaned forward when she shook her head, her eyes flashing with playful anticipation."Hopefully someone handsome—""It's Aaron
"I don't like him. Not like, like him. Okay? I met him once and only for the course of an hour, tops. I couldn't do anything about it if I did, anyway. I'm about to be… to be pregnant. By Aaron. To give my own cousin an heir." I paused, looking up at her. "Wow, that sounds horrible when you say it a
MaeveIt couldn't be.Aaron bobbed his head at me, his curls falling over his face. "Maeve," he said, his voice serious, nothing like the man I had met hours earlier. "You're looking… well."I could see the smile hiding in the corner of his mouth. I glared, which surprised him, one of his dark brows
"I am.""That's great.""Sure."He exhaled deeply, shifting his weight as he looked away from me and around the room. "Hmm…""What?""Nothing."I rocked on my heels, glancing longingly at the door."You can go, if you want," he said, tilting his head toward the door. "I'm not holding you captive.""
"It's late." He turned back around, motioning toward the door. "We should go to bed." He blushed, shaking his head. "I didn't mean–""I know what you meant." I gave him a generous smile, even though my heart felt like it would burst through my chest. "Can I ask you something?""What?""I thought you
The entire family had gathered in the dining room and was chatting amiably over a very impressive spread that had been laid out by the kitchen–two prime rib roasts, a honeyed ham, and three roast ducks were the centerpieces of the table, all of which were being enjoyed liberally by everyone.George
RowanMom ran her fingers across Selene's head, admiring her fine white hair. She looked every ounce the doting grandmother instead of a ball of uncertainty, like Maeve. Maeve was pacing back and forth near the fall wall of my bedroom, her arms folded across her chest and her head bent as she tried
Kacidra joined in the conversation. "Maeve is right, Rowan. We need to know what's happening with you and Hanna, or else we'll never be able to help."Rosalie's voice was calm and supportive as she asked, "Is it Hanna that's troubling you, son? Is she doing all right?My first instinct was to tell t
Gemma and Ernest had flown down with my parents and their son George, who was just two months older than Maeve's sons.A moment later, the library door opened and more of our family members poured in, as if they were fully aware of the thoughts I'd just had and I'd summoned them. I pushed aside my n
RowanThe castle was abuzz with its usual day-to-day activities. Servants and maids passed me in the hallway carrying baskets of laundry and trays of tea. I could hear the clattering of cookware as I left my office and walked toward the grand staircase off the foyer, seeing the door to the servants'
"Who? What happens?""There's so much more out there," Mara said dreamily. "So, so much more.""Maeve!" Troy called from down the beach.I turned to look at him, and when I turned back to Mara, she had taken off. "Wait!" I called after her, but she had already made it out of earshot, her footsteps l
Best of all, Troy was happy. He was at peace and at home. But there was still much work to be done.We were spending several weeks jumping from island to island, taking stock of the wellbeing of the inhabitants, and making a list of what was needed. Most of the islands were in need of medicine, inf
Maeve–Four Months LaterSuntra was not what I was expecting. I had become accustomed to the seemingly endless white-sand beaches of Avondale, where the sand grit was so fine it felt like powdered sugar as you walked barefoot in the surf. Suntra's sand was coarse and golden and dappled with tidepool
I straightened up a bit, shifting Oliver's weight in my arms as I narrowed my eyes back at him, sizing him up. A man roughly my father's age came bounding out of their house, waving at me apologetically as he leaned to whisper harshly in the ear of the man I assumed was his father.Whatever his son