Grayson I held her as tightly as I dared. I could see the looks we were getting from Queen Sarah and my father. It was the only thing that stopped me from pulling her closer – especially after she admitted my father made her uncomfortable. I felt an overwhelming need to protect her. The way my father was looking at her made me angry. When she called me her white knight it took all of my willpower to not sweep her up in my arms and carry her to safety. How did I let her go for so long? I didn’t know the answer to that, but I knew there was something that drew me back to her. Something that was becoming more difficult to ignore the longer she was in my arms. “Abby?” I ventured. We were hidden from my parents by the other dancers, and I felt suddenly brave. “Yes?” she looked up at me with those clear green eyes and I melted. Gods I want to kiss her so badly. I want to tell her how she makes me feel. I wanted to carry her out of the room and never have to come back. “I… uh…” I blus
Abigail I stared at him in disbelief, but before I could respond he continued. “At least I know you. We get along, and you aren’t painfully in love with someone else.” He paused. “You aren’t, are you?” “No, Grayson. I am not in love with anyone else.” I’m in love with you… He looked relieved. I needed some air. I felt a sudden need to get out of the Hall. I feigned a yawn. “I should go to bed. The princess will need all the help she can get tomorrow.” Just getting her down the aisle will be a struggle. “Oh,” he sounded disappointed. “Okay. I probably should, as well.” He stood up and offered me his arm. “May I escort you to your room?” “Do you know your way around the castle yet?” I asked with concern. “Um… no.” He blushed. “Then why don’t I escort you to your rooms?” He chucked, embarrassed. “That sounds like a much better idea.” I took his arm and led him through the corridors of the castle. I pointed out features of interest – a painting of a past monarch here, an espec
Grayson I hardly slept that night. My thoughts were full of Abigail’s words and Catherine’s rejection. I had no idea what would happen to me if Catherine refused to marry me in the morning. Would my father blame me? The dawn came sooner than I would have liked, and as soon as I heard the servants moving around, I got up and dressed for breakfast. I arrived at the hall to find it empty except for Abby. She was dressed casually, in breeches and a tunic, twirling in the creeping sunlight like a small child. She looked beautiful, the sunlight catching the highlights in her hair as she spun, laughter on her lips and in her eyes. I wasn’t paying attention and walked into a chair, knocking it over and causing a loud bang. She startled and stopped twirling. “Oh! Grayson! I didn’t know anyone else would be here this early.” She blushed. “Don’t let me stop you,” I said walking over to her. She smiled and took my hand as I approached. “Twirl me,” was all she said. How could I say no?
Abigail The last thing I remembered was pain. I had been fighting alongside the others when I suddenly felt the worst pain I had ever felt. Then everything went black. I woke up in the infirmary, Grayson sitting by my side. He had his head resting on my hand and had fallen asleep. I reached over and gently stroked his hair. He was so gorgeous and peaceful when he slept. He opened his eyes and smiled at me. “Saved your life,” I remembered saying the same thing to him in the temple and smiled. After that was a whirlwind of people appearing, arguing, and then leaving. I held Grayson’s hand while his father tried to belittle him, to no avail. When we were finally left alone, I breathed a sigh of relief. “Come here,” I said. I patted the bed next to me and slid over. He smiled and climbed up onto the bed, laying down and wrapping me in his arms, careful not to bump my bandages. I laid my head down on his chest as he stroked my hair, and I fell asleep listening to his heartbeat. Lat
Grayson While we were waiting for Aryk to clean up, I checked Abby’s shoulder, changed her bandages, and made sure she was able to move without pain. I massaged the muscle and felt butterflies in my stomach when she let out a pleasurable moan. “You have magic hands,” she joked. If she only knew. I looked down at her and smiled. I said a quick prayer to the Mother asking to keep Abby in my life, no matter what happened. Even if all we could ever be is friends, I needed her and her kindness in my life. “Abby?” “Mmm” “I lo-“ Just then Catherine burst through the doorway. “You guys have got to see this.” Then she ran back out again. Looking at each other, we got up and ran after her. “I wonder what’s lit her pants on fire?” Abby asked. She led us to the courtyard, where we saw my father in a shouting match with Lord Aryk. “How DARE you question my loyalty to Queen Sarah!” Aryk shouted at my father. “Why wouldn’t I?” Father shouted back. “You are a sorcerer! You’re much more
Abigail Our conversation stalled, and we rode along silently for a long time. After a while, I spurred my horse on to catch up with my sister, leaving Grayson behind to bring up the rear. “You okay?” Rose asked. “Yeah,” I replied dryly. “Was just tired of seeing your ass.” Rose laughed. “I figured you’d spend the whole trip back there flirting with the prince.” “Yes, well,” I sighed. “He seems to suddenly be interested in Cat and what she is like.” Rose looked at me sadly. “They are still set to be married when we return. I’m not exactly thrilled about it either, but it would be easier for them if they did take this time to get to know each other.” She lowered her voice, “We all have to accept reality. They are still getting married when we return. This trip changes nothing except the number of people attending the wedding.” I sighed. “You’re right.” I paused. “I can’t spend the whole journey flirting with him and falling for him more, just to watch him marry someone else w
Grayson The next few days were terrible. Catherine wouldn’t talk to anyone, except to bark orders. Abby avoided me completely, and I still didn’t understand why. Only Rose would talk to me out of the three girls. “I’d like to pull that stick out of Cat’s ass and beat her with it.” Rose mumbled to me one morning, after listening to another one of Catherine’s rants. “I would pay good coin to see that,” I said, causing her to laugh. Even though she wouldn’t interact with me, I still found myself staring at Abigail often. Everything she did was graceful, like a dancer, and I loved watching her move. I would sometimes catch her dancing when she thought she was alone, her curls catching the last of the day’s light. She was so beautiful, and I had lost her. Abby had told me to get to know Catherine, which was proving to be impossible. When she wasn’t barking orders, Catherine kept making comments to make me feel like a burden she would rather not deal with. I wasn’t the only one facing
Abigail *WARNING: MILD REFERENCE TO ATTEMPTED SA* I let him hold me. I couldn’t calm down unless he was near, and I felt safe in his arms. The thing had brought back a memory of the time the real Jacob had attempted to corner me in the armory after drills. He had me pinned to the wall, and was trying to get his hand up my shirt. “Jacob, stop!” I yelled repeatedly, hoping someone would hear. “Hush now, Duchess. You know I’m your only option. No one else wants someone as ugly as you. I’ll take you to paradise, Duchess, and then your father will have to let me marry you.” I head-butted him, breaking his nose. When he let go of me to grab his nose, I kneed him in the crotch, pushed him over, and ran. I started hyperventilating as that memory played through my head over and over. “Breathe, Abby, breathe with me,” I heard Grayson saying through the fog in my brain. I felt him put on hand on the center of my chest and the other on my back. “Come on, with me… in… now out… in… out… tha