Page 45 of Once Upon a Woven Wish
No.No.She didn’t want him to ask her anything.But she did not refuse him.“A ride sounds lovely.”
“Good.I’ll make sure they bring you warm clothes.”He released her hand.
“Thank you, your highness.”She dipped a curtsy.
Then she entered her room and closed the door with a snap, leaning against the solid wood until she heard his receding footsteps.
What in the stars above could he want to ask her?
She pushed away the thought.She knew, if she was being honest with herself.And she could not accept it.Shecould not.She had a promise to keep.
Her gaze landed on the green book she’d left in the center of her bed.She rushed to it, then, picked it up and flipped to the page where she read again the story of Caedon.She ran her fingers over the printed ink and then tried out his name on her tongue.
“Caedon Lyserian.”
She liked the way it sounded, the way it felt when she said it.The way her heart raced when she did.
“I have found you,” she whispered.She read on, “He broke the first law of Fae magic.What was that, Caedon?What did you do?”
Serena kicked off her slippers and climbed into the bed, holding the book.She read more, in the hopes she would learn the truth.But there was nothing in the book that gave her that answer.After a time, she fell asleep, clutching the book and dreaming of the Fae prince who was bound into servitude for all eternity.She dreamed of the Well of Wishes, golden magic tendrils curling upward into the night, lighting it up.
Your time is ended, Serena Windriver.The wish has been granted.The bargain must be paid.
“But…my family…I haven’t—”
That does not concern me.You have tasted power.You have taken what is not yours.Now, return.The Well will claim you.Your breath, your blood, your name.
She whimpered, trying to pull herself out of sleep.But something held her there.As though the Well itself had invaded her dream.
You cannot hide.You cannot flee.The Weaver waits, the hour draws near.Come to the mountain, Serena Windriver.It is time.
She jolted awake, heart pounding, sitting upright so quickly the book slid off her chest and off the bed, thumping on the floor.The room was still and quiet.Only the dying embers in the hearth glowed there.
And she knew then what she had to do.
Return to the mountain, speak his name, and risk everything before the Well claimed her first.
Chapter 17
Dawnbrokeacrossthesky, bleeding through the wintery clouds in a brilliant display of fiery orange and yellow.
Even as she noticed the vivid display, she pushed her horse to go faster.She needed to put as much distance between her and the palace as possible.
After the dream of the Well, she had quickly dressed in her old clothes, slipping on her shoes and pulling on a thick fur-lined cloak.She had tucked the book under her arm and then turned toward the door, her heart in the throat.
She had lied to the castle guards, telling them the prince asked her to meet him in the stables.
She had stolen a horse—she knew how to saddle one herself—and she had ridden away into the dead of night with nothing but the book in the saddlebags.No food.No water.No other clothes.
As she rode, that phantom voice she’d heard in her dream still haunted her.
Come to me, Serena Windriver.
Now, she was nearly to the village.It would be waking at this early hour.Even in the dead of winter.As she approached, she saw gray smoke curling from chimneys and faint yellow light glowing in windows.But she did not stop.
As much as she wanted to stop and hug Papa and Maris, she did not.She continued, skirting the outer edge of the village to, hopefully, go unnoticed.
At the foot of the mountain, she dismounted.The horse’s neck had a fine sheen of sweat along it.She had ridden it far too hard, but she had to get out the palace and return to the village.She knew, by now, her absence would be discovered.By now, the king’s guards would be dispatched to find her and bring her back.She would be branded a witch and a fraud for why else would she run from the prince?
