Page 126 of Anwen of Primewood
“You are allowed to be happy.”
I shake my head. “I don’t deserve to be happy. Look what I’ve done.”
He sets his fragile hand on my cheek. “You are so much like your mother.”
I close my eyes.
“She was impatient as well. She wanted you so badly, she couldn’t bear to wait. You wanted happiness so badly, you ran off to find it.”
“You heard,” I whisper.
“I knew.”
“But you loved her. How could you love her when you knew she did that to you?”
He smiles. “I forgave her. Just as I have already forgiven you.”
I choke on a sob. “I miss her.”
He clasps my hand, squeezing it. His voice breaks. “I miss her, too.”
I cling to his hand for several moments, and then I let go and offer him more soup.
He ignores it. “You need to go to him, Anwen.”
“You just said I have to be patient and not go chasing after happiness.” I give the spoon a little wiggle to remind him I won’t leave him alone until he eats.
He gives me a small smile. “Happiness followed you home, and you sent it away.”
I chew my lip. “You really think so?”
Father nods. “I know.”
I drum my fingers against my leg and stare out the window. “Do you think I could perhaps leave for Glendon tomorrow?”
Father takes the spoon from me. Though it trembles in his hand, he brings it to his lips. “I think that would be wise.”
I can’t sleep knowingtomorrow I will leave to go to Galinor. It’s been months. What if he doesn’t want me anymore? Worse—what if he’s found someone else?
My blankets are hot; I throw them off. Now I’m cold; I pull them back on. I have no idea if it’s the middle of the night or almost dawn, so I stare at the curtains, waiting for light to peek through the edges.
How light will it be before I see it through the drapes? What if I lay here long after dawn?
I pad across the cold stone floor, pull back thecurtains, and open the window, letting in the cool spring air. The horizon is still black. No birds sing.
Even though I shiver, I leave the window open. Now I will know exactly when the sky lightens over the trees.
I cuddle under my blankets, blocking out the cold. I must doze because something wakes me. I blink my eyes and peer around the room, looking for Brynna.
She usually slips in early in the morning to light the fire, but I don’t see her or anyone else. The noise must have come from the forest. I close my eyes, and then I hear a shrill, eerie cry from outside.
It’s Danver.
I sit up, ready to go collect him. With Pika around, I haven’t worried about a predator finding the fox, but something has upset him. I swing my legs over the side of the bed, and when I do, I meet a knife.
The sharp, cold blade presses against my neck, and I freeze.
“Hello, Anwen,” the dark voice says.
