Page 19 of Not Another Happily Ever After

My arms loosen around my legs, tempted by the notion.

But then his hand falls away, and with it, any illusions of that ever happening. After all, how could it? He’s destined to spend all of eternity haunting the hallways of my home because of a curse I can’t seem to break. And if, by some miracle I do, he’ll be gone. And me? I’ll be?—

Late.

“Oh no!” I suck in, leaping to my feet.

“What? What is it?” Riven asks, moving to stand, but I’m already running. This time, more careful of my steps.

Father’s going to kill me.

“The ceremony!” I call out over my shoulder. “I forgot about the ceremony!”

“Oh. Uh, alright. I’ll see you tomorrow then?” he shouts, his voice nearly lost to the wind.

My steps halt at the base of the tower and I turn to face the ghost that unknowingly holds so much of my heart in his hands. I want to say yes. But with every piece of myself I am forced to sacrifice for this curse, I become less and less of the girl he calls friend.

So instead, I simply smile, taking stock of his features for what may very well be the last time before leaving him for the castle. Again.

With no time toask what Father has planned, I slip into the thin white gown Peony left out for me and work my fingers through my tangled mess of hair. I don’t even bother looking in the mirror as I pass it on the way into the hall. The certainty of Father’s disapproval is louder than any hopes I might have deluded myself with.

“Are you ready, my lady?” Rhidland asks, ignoring my disheveled state.

He knows all too well not to ask about my ventures. Makes it easier for him to keep them secret.

“If I say no, could I have five more minutes?”

“My lady…” Rhidland exhales heavily, massaging the bridge of his nose.

“Three! If I could just get three more minutes I could do something with my hair and?—”

Rhidland meets my gaze, a silent warning in his expression.

I am well and truly out of time.

My shoulders drop down from where my hopes had dared to climb and I relinquish the breath I had been holding.

“Right then,” I sigh, clutching myself to stave off the chill racing up my spine as I follow him down a dark winding corridor leading to the castle caverns.

His fist is but a breath’s width away from the door when he stops short.

“Would you look at that,” he murmurs, grabbing his silver chest plate with both hands. “I’ve got something on my armor.”

I stare, puzzled, as the burly man rubs at a mark only he can see.

“My apologies, my lady. This should only take a minute.” He winks. Like, actually winks. On purpose.

“Rhidland?” I balk.

“Feel free to tend to your own needs. I should only be a moment more.”

“A moment more with?—”

Oh.

He inclines his chin, pretending not to notice the salty pools threatening to run down my cheeks. Pools filled by the generosity he refuses to take credit for.

Stubborn old man.