field as butterflies, a rainbow of colors, danced around them.
In the dream, he said, “This is home, my own darling. It’s for us to keep it, and all in it, safe. It’s for me to teach you how. That’s joy and duty.”
She squealed when he lifted her high, when he spun her around and around and the fluttering rainbows spun with them.
When he held her close again, she felt his heart beat against her and knew love absolute.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Up before sunrise, Breen wrote her blog. She spent some happy time selecting the pictures to go with the text, and made a note to do one of those personalized photo books for Marco for Christmas.
Energized, she dressed for the day and set out on another early walk. It still amazed her that her life could include such simple luxuries as a morning walk.
More confident, she decided to take one of the paths into the woods where the soft light dappled through the trees, and the air smelled quietly of earth and pine.
She felt alone in a wonderland, and marveling, walked deeper than she’d intended. When she caught sight of a river, mists rising, fingers of smoke through the trees, she wandered closer.
A little wooden boat with a pointed bow rested on shore, its oars crossed inside. She imagined what it might be like to float over the water, through those mists where a few lazy ducks glided along. Around the curve of the river, she calculated, the castle would come into view, as it had for hundreds of years.
She pulled out her phone, took a picture of the misty river, the little boat. From the left, she heard a rustling.
As she turned, she saw the bird perched on a branch looking down at her with gold eyes. A hawk—at least she thought so, as she’d never seen one up close. She knew the castle grounds held a falconry school, so a hawk made sense.
“Well, hello,” she began, then froze in place when it swooped down to land at her feet.
Head cocked, he continued to study her.
“Pretty big bird,” she murmured. “And really beautiful. Handsome? Whichever.”
Fascination overcame nerves so she crouched down.
“Do they just let you out? I don’t know how it works, but you look too smart to be lost.”
“Oh, he knows what he’s about.”
The voice startled Breen, had her springing up. The hawk just watched.
With a quick laugh, the woman stepped out of the trees onto the path. She wore rough brown trousers, a forest-green jacket, a brown cap over sunflower-blond hair in a long, thick braid. And a falconer’s glove on her left hand.
“Sorry. Amish wanted a flight, and I a walk, so here we are. Good morning to you.”
“Good morning. Am I not supposed to be here?”
“Sure and you can come and go as you please. It seems Amish has taken a fancy to you. I’m Morena, and I’m with him.”
“I’m Breen. He’s gorgeous.”
“And knows it as well.” Morena gave a hand signal that had the hawk rising back up to take the branch. “Are you enjoying your visit to the castle then?”
“Very much. It’s magical.”
Morena’s smile flashed again, her blue eyes bright with it. “Magic’s where you find it, isn’t it now?” She produced another glove, held it out. “Would you like a bit of a hawk walk?”
“Really? I can just . . .” She trailed off to look back up at the hawk.
“Well, as I said, he’s taken a fancy to you, so let’s both of you have a treat.” She slid the thick glove on Breen’s hand herself.
Over it, their eyes met again. Breen felt some sort of click, but couldn’t understand or describe it.
Then Morena stepped back, and the moment slid by like the river.
“We’ll walk a bit along the river so you can see how our boy does things. It should be good weather for you today, just some spots of rain in the afternoon, but plenty of bright.”
“I don’t mind the rain.”
“That’s a happy thing, considering. Here now, you take this bit of chicken in your hand, and turn it. You’ll hold your arm up like this, elbow cocked. Well done,” she said as she positioned Breen’s arm. “Now watch him come.”
Come he did.
It stole her breath, that spread of wings, the rich color catching just a quick strike of sunlight. He glided, all silent grace and power, to land on her gloved arm.
And now those eyes stared into hers, close, gleaming.
“Well done indeed,” Morena said. “Now then, just turn your hand