Twenty Seven

Brielle let out a deep sigh as she stared longingly out into the castle gardens. Everything was so quiet, peaceful. Nothing could be heard from all around, except the whistling of the wind in the cool autumn night.

Slouching on an old oak bench, time felt like it was stood still for Brielle. She rested her head against the wooden frame and studied the pre-lit sky above her. She couldn’t resist the temptation to smile as she reminisced on her last evening out here, under the stars.

Only unlike right now, she wasn’t alone. She was with Ryker. She had enjoyed the night much more than she had allowed herself to let on to others. His presence brought her a sense of calm she’d previously never experienced and a rush of happiness she never thought she would get to feel.

The truth was, she’d never really allowed herself to believe that kind of happiness was meant for her. Her duties were to Shadow and having a mate would only distract her from her responsibilities, or so she had once thought.