break off whatever arrangement he had with that girl, if he knew about my curse. We never told any other candidates, but we have to tell him. Just get him for me, have him propose and declare his love, and we can deal with anything else afterwards—please.”
And I broke down, blubbering like a helpless child.
But that’s what I was, and what I would remain until I was no more. In two weeks’ time, I was supposed to ascend into womanhood. But without him, I would only descend into oblivion, having never truly lived.
In the midst of the storm of misery, I was crushed against a heaving chest, then Leander’s deep voice singed my temple with its ragged promise. “I’ll do everything I can, Fay.”
I raised drenched eyes to him. “Promise me you’ll find him!”
He dropped a kiss on my forehead, then strode out of the room.
It was much later as I lay curled in my bed, tears long dried, that I realized something that made them flow freely again.
Leander hadn’t promised he’d find Reynard.
Chapter Six
I guessed it took impending death to change one’s perspective.
Who would have believed that my mother would bless my marriage to a magical being?
She’d come to join everyone in insisting I give Leander’s candidates a chance to break the curse. She’d even finally told Esmeralda and Florian about it, trying to use the former’s fury and the latter’s tears to pressure me. With every minute counting down to my demise, even she had overcome her prejudice for a chance to save me. She could clearly cling to it in Leander’s case because he’d already been saved.
But I’d refused, and my suitors had left.
I’d been so certain Reynard was the one, which meant Leander would find him, or he must come back.
But Leander hadn’t returned.
Neither had Reynard.
Now one hour remained to the sunset of my eighteenth year.
I’d sent everyone away an hour ago, now sat at my window, as I had for the past two weeks, day and night. Waiting, praying, pleading to catch sight of galloping horses approaching the castle, bringing the one who would save me.
But there had been nothing. And now, it was too late.
It was over.
I wondered how it would happen. Would the Horned God come for me himself? Would he lead me away to the Underworld, or would he just touch me, and I’d be instantly transported there? Would it hurt? Would I be judged, and my eternal fate decided? Had I done enough in my life to deserve paradise or damnation? Or had I done nothing to merit either, and would just cease to be? If I had a choice, that would be my preference.
Finally leaving my window seat, I headed towards my bed. I’d lie there and wait. When it was time, I’d just…
Suddenly, all my hairs stood on end.
That sound. The galloping I’d been praying for.
My numbness evaporating in a blast of hope, I tore to the window. But the riders had already dismounted and were crossing through the front doors. I saw only the flapping edge of a green coat. Reynard…?
I started running towards my door, but halfway, I stopped, stood rooted. The hope was so brutal, it paralyzed me.
Minutes passed as I stared at the door, breathing shallow and heartbeats like an out-of-control train. The stomping footsteps grew closer, closer…
The door burst open and there he was.
Leander.
He froze the moment he saw me, and we stared at each other for three heart-bursting seconds, before the realization hit. He was wearing a green coat. And he was alone.
Tears of agonized frustration welled in Leander’s eyes, matching my own. “I couldn’t find him. When he disappears no one can find him. I’m so sorry, Fay. I wish—I wish…”
His panting choked into silence. And my own chokehold was back, an invisible pressure around my throat, strangling any words I could have mustered, letting nothing but horrified wheezing escape my trembling lips.
I was going to die. I was going to die and there was nothing that could be done about it.
Reynard hadn’t been the one.
Reeling with the terrible letdown, my urge to flee from this cruel, pointless fate propelled me to tear out of my brother’s shaking hands as he reached for me, out of the room I’d spent my life in.
I no longer wanted to end it there.
Leander yelled my name as he pursued me, but the sound of my thundering heart overtook all other senses as I ran, and ran.
I spiraled down every flight, the castle blurring by, until