have had to change who he was to do it.
He squeezed her hand. “You know… when my queen found out the Eldur queen’s dog was going to the human realm to bring you here, I prayed she wouldn’t send me after him, after you. Humans hold little interest for me, but you… you’re different.” Silver light reflected off his dark eyes, giving them an ethereal glow. “I’m sorry I imprisoned you.”
“I understand why you did it,” she whispered. This place was dangerous, and he’d known she’d try to escape. If he hadn’t locked her up, she’d probably be dead.
He tapped the back of her hand with his thumb. “Don’t agree with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I enjoy your biting tongue.”
She laughed. “Fine. You’re an idiot who did an idiot thing.”
“That was weak.”
“If you ever try to lock me up again, I’ll rip off your man-bits and feed them to Mack.”
“Whoa…” He crossed his legs. “Too far.”
“Sorry.”
“You should be.”
She bumped his shoulder, and he turned to face her. The lines of his face looked smoother in the shadows, his stubble hidden by the dark. Griff was a character from a book, not someone who should exist in real life. And yet… there he sat in front of her. Close enough to touch. Close enough to…
His fingers brushed her cheek, and she sucked in a breath. Myles once told her a kiss is a part of someone you hold forever. He romanticized everything, and she’d always laughed it off. But now, as she sat in front of the most perfect boy she’d ever met, she wanted something of him, something to keep forever even if this adventure had to end.
“What’s that?” he whispered.
Brea strained to hear whatever he heard, but there was nothing save the sound of crickets in the night. Then it became clear. Hooves pounded into the dirt path, coming through the valley.
Griff stood and brushed off his pants.
“Who would be traveling after dark?” Brea asked, getting to her feet. She didn’t bother brushing dirt from her pants as she strained to see the rider.
Moonlight glinted off silver hair as he rode closer.
“That’s a messenger of the queen.” Griff drew himself up to his full height.
As the rider neared, Brea could make out a crest of flowers and wolves on the man’s uniform.
He slid from his horse and approached, bowing. “My Lord, Griffin.”
“Fraser.” Griff stretched out a hand, and the other man straightened and clasped it. “Good to see you. Come in.”
“I’m sorry, I cannot.” He reached into the saddlebag and procured a letter with a wax seal. “From her Majesty. I am due back at court and must ride through the night.” He issued one more bow before pulling himself back onto his horse and riding away.
“What is it?” Brea asked.
Griff didn’t answer as he went back inside and retrieved an oil lantern from the table. He scraped his thumb under the seal and broke it before unfolding the letter.
After a moment, he looked up, a faint smile on his face. “Finally. We have been summoned to the palace. We leave tomorrow.”
Brea swallowed. The palace.
The outcast girl from Grafton, Ohio was going to meet the queen.
Crap.
Chapter Seven
“How far is the palace?” Brea nudged Maisie to go a little bit faster. The sweet horse had two speeds. Slow and stop. Not that Brea was in a hurry to get to where they were going. She was curious about her aunt, but she was not at all confident she could do this whole meet the queen thing.
“We will be there by nightfall.” Griff set an easy pace across the rolling hills just beyond the cottage.
“Is it a for real palace?” Brea chewed her bottom lip.
“As opposed to a fake one?” Griff shot her an amused smile.
Brea shrugged. “I saw this movie once where the queen and king didn’t care too much for fancy things. Their palace was a cozy log cabin.”
“Your aunt enjoys the finer things. Her palace is grand—and like nothing your human eyes have ever seen.”
“Like how?” she pressed. Brea didn’t like surprises. She needed to be prepared for whatever was coming her way.
“You will see soon enough. Queen Regan’s palace lies along the Villandi River in the forest city of Vindur.”
“How can a forest be a city?” Brea leaned into her saddle, hoping her fat little mare would make it to Vindur. At the rate she was stopping to eat grass, it might take them a week to get there.
“You will see soon enough.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re infuriating?”
“Frequently.” Griff pushed