Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
“Who knows? Honestly, a rabbit’s spirit might be the scariest thing.”
“What?” I laughed. “I cannot wait to hear the justification for that.”
“There’s nothing more frightening than something cute and fluffy that happens to be dead and reanimated.”
“Oh, my gods.” I shook my head. “I don’t think spirits are the dead reanimated, Tawny.”
“How would you know?”
“Because I’ve seen the Craven,” I said, the smile fading from my lips. I’d seen cursed mortals die and then come back. I knew what the reanimated dead looked like.
“True,” Tawny murmured, stopping as the tang of sorrow reached me. She waited until I was beside her and then folded her arm around mine. “By the way, do you know what I’ve heard?” She lowered her voice, even though the only other things in the Grove besides us were likely small, fluffy critters and large birds. Well, the only living things, I supposed. “About the new guard?
“The new guard?” I questioned, even though I knew exactly who she spoke of. Only one name was on everyone’s lips these last several weeks. Hawke Flynn. My stomach dipped, tangling much like the bare roots around that bolder earlier. There was so much wrong with that, I wasn’t even sure where to begin.
“Yes, the new, extraordinarily handsome guard you seem to have completely forgotten about,” she replied dryly. “Despite the fact that you’ve spent quite a few mornings of late engrossed in the guards’ daily training.”
My cheeks warmed, and a pair of golden eyes shone brightly in my mind…as did well-formed arms honed from wielding a sword, slick with sweat. “I have no idea what you’re speaking of.”
Tawny’s laugh was light. “Sure.”
I said nothing to that because Tawny knew I lied. Everyone was aware of who Hawke Flynn was. I imagined even Duke Teerman found himself a bit engrossed in watching the guard. It was the way he moved, the fluid gracefulness when he trained. Or how, when he entered the Great Hall for the City Council sessions, he didn’t just walk. He prowled.
I cleared my throat. “What have you heard?”
“That he’s found someone new to occupy his spare time with,” she shared as the scent of damp soil thickened around us. “Britta.”
“Oh? I’m sure they make a lovely couple,” I heard myself say as a pang of envy lanced my chest. Britta was one of the many maids who worked within the castle, and I wasn’t at all surprised to hear that she was one of a string of many—at least according to the gossips—who’d caught Hawke’s eye. Not only because she was one of the prettiest maids but because Britta enjoyed life and all it had to offer. She was bold with her affection. She was experienced. The only time I’d ever seen her appear scandalized was when she spoke of the dancing she’d seen behind the curtains at the Red Pearl.
Which made me very curious about what type of dancing she’d seen.
But I wasn’t sure if the envy curdling low in my stomach was directed at her or purely because I…well, I had no idea what it was like to catch another’s attention in that way. To be…wanted. To become experienced. To truly live.
And I likely never would.
Spying the glistening water through the trees, I pulled myself out of my thoughts. There was no point in dwelling on that, was there? The future was inevitable, and I didn’t want to spoil these moments I had with Tawny.
Sooner rather than later, we wouldn’t have any of these.
The quiet lake appeared ahead of us, its still waters reflecting the moonlight and catching the shadows of the long tree branches still flush with leaves. That would change soon, too. The late-season heat would end in a blink, and I would wake up one morning to see that all the leaves had fallen. Another winter would be upon us.
Slipping free of Tawny’s hold, I walked ahead. Once I reached the water’s edge, I reached up and lowered my hood, baring my face to the night sky. There was nothing better than feeling the air on my cheeks and brow.
“You look like you’re going to turn into a statue,” Tawny commented.
Grinning, I glanced over at her. She’d already dropped her cloak onto one of the nearby flat rocks and now stood in just a shift as she kicked off her ankle boots. She had her mass of caramel-hued curls piled high atop her head, making her cheekbones appear sharper and higher. I eyed the smooth skin of her brow and cheek and felt another unwanted twist of envy.
I looked away, annoyed with myself as I unlatched my cloak. I folded it neatly before laying it beside Tawny’s since it didn’t belong to me. I wasn’t even sure whose it was, but it must’ve been worn by a man. There was still the distinctive spice of some cologne lingering on it. I’d sort of helped myself to it when I saw it lying in one of the many first-floor chambers. Now, I took care of it. I wasn’t even sure why. It wasn’t like I planned to return it to where I’d found it. I hoarded clothing of color like others collected books or knickknacks.