Chapter 21 - Unexpected Garren By the time I had shown Penelope the rest of the village and got her settled into her room, the sun had started to set, and I knew that tomorrow would feel even shorter than it did today and that after tomorrow it would already be time for us to return to the castle and all the threats and problems that were waiting for us there. But even with the distraction of the people here and the problems back in Caspian, I still couldn't drown out the words Penelope had said to me when we first got here, right after I had basically told her I didn't want to go. The close contact with her seemed to make my mouth work faster than my mind and I knew that if I wasn't careful I would only make all of this harder on the both of us.The hurt that crossed her emerald eyes still made my chest feel tight and my skin itch with anger. Not anger towards her but towards the cruel hand that fate has dealt us. It was why I had found myself behind the bakery, cutting wood as th

Chapter 23 - Enough Garren The job of a King was to ensure that his people felt self and protected all while keeping order. It was a gruelling task, one I wouldn't wish upon my greatest enemy. The hours were long, and the days were tiresome. I didn't want to be back here sitting on my throne in front of my people so soon. Not when I had planned to have one more day of solitude with Penelope. But all of that was shattered the moment Zeke stepped through the portal and destroyed any shred of hope I had at having one last night lost in the possibility of what life with Penelope could be like. As I sat in front of my people and listened to their outrage and confusion about the rumours of my mate that had spread like wildfire throughout the capital. I knew then that a life like what we experienced in Ramiro, where everyone accepted Penelope so quickly, was impossible. Another reminder of why I had to find a way to get her to leave without breaking my promise of asking her to, or worse,

Chapter 25 - DutyGarren Twice I had lost myself to the pull of the bond, and twice I hadn't cared what that meant for Penelope and me. Consequences be damned; now that I had a taste of Penelope, I wouldn't be able to stop. It was a dangerous game, the constant fight between my heart and my head, but it was one I was willing to play, knowing that time wasn't on our side either way.She was a siren with a call explicitly designed for me. The way she defied my orders and continued to push when I told her to stop drove me insane, but it also made me want to do other things to her that I hadn't wanted to do with any other female before. Penelope may be a werewolf, but she has the heart of a warrior and the spirit of a dragon. She was a walking target that filled my chest with both pride and worry. The stubborn bullheadedness was bound to get her into trouble, and it had. I was still fuming with rage, the loss of control driving me mad. After promising she wouldn't, Penelope had gone a

Chapter 27 - ImpactPenelope "Again," Mildred commanded. I raised my bow without complaint, notching another arrow and lining up my arms until I was in position. I stared at the target taking in the direction the gentle wind blew around the last of the dying leaves and the feel of the chilled air against my face. I took a deep breath in through my nose and out my mouth. With one final inhale, I held my breath, releasing my hold on the arrow as I slowly released the air from my lungs.The sharp whistle of the arrow whizzing by my ear was the only proof that I had given it enough power to hit my mark with a hard impact. An impact that would have been strong enough to pierce through an enemy's heart. My arrow cut through the air at full speed ending with an audible thud as it hit the bullseye. I didn't give myself time to admire the shot, raising another arrow and firing it into the next target and then the next, and the next. Each target was farther than the last, but my aim held tru

Chapter 29 - PretendPenelope I felt like I was in a dream, one I never wanted to wake up from. The air in Kailani smelt so crisp and fresh that it felt like I was breathing for the first time. The flowers were so bright and full of life as they danced in the breeze, moving with such grace as the birds above us sang a beautiful melody. I felt as if I had just entered a painting.My breath was caught in my throat; my lips parted in awe as I took in the cascading waterfall and the bright blue skies above us. The wind was warm as it blew around us as if wrapping us in a welcoming embrace. I followed Garren in utter silence, too amazing to think beyond moving my feet forward. As we crested the hill, a small log cabin came into view. I felt like I was actually living in a fairytale for the first time since coming here. Except this was real, as real as the breath leaving my lungs and the beating of my heart in my chest. "I never thought I would ever see the day when you were actually sho