Page 86 of Not Another Happily Ever After

“My lady,please.”

I suck in a shaky breath and lower my gaze. Blood trickles from his mouth now.

“I’m so sorry, Rhidland. You never got to see the good return.”

His eyes soften as his thumb strokes my cheek.

“Oh, but I did. I sawyou. And you aregood.” His breath hitches in his throat and warm tears pour from his eyes. “I die with a full heart, My lady. For it has finally seen you happy.”

His eyes drift to where Frog is wrestling a blade out of an attacker’s hand, then back to me, a knowing glint in his eyes.

“Your heart is in good hands,” he whispers, his breaths growing shallow.

I take his hand in mine, squeezing it to my chest.

“It will carry the memory of yours for a lifetime,” I sob.

He smiles, drawing in his last breath. “My Sunday.”

His hand goes still in mine, its warmth already fading. Yet I hold on…waiting. Certain his chest will rise again.

But it doesn’t.

The realm falls silent, even the men and their stupid swords. They’ve all faded into nothing beneath the pounding of my heart.

I clutch the old guard tighter, burying my face in his shoulder.

“No…”

Somewhere nearby, someone shouts my name. But I don’t let go.

How can I let go?

Strong hands reach for my shoulders. I shrug them away. Above us, honeyed hues of pink and orange spill across the road, washing the tangled forest behind us in a beautiful shade of gold.

A new day has begun. My first without him.

They buried him beneath sunlight,

deep within the sand.

And next to him, a small pile of rocks

For a man named Galahand.

No goodbyes were needed.

No goodbyes were said.

For grief is a love that knows no end.

They buried him beneath sunlight,

deep within the sand.

And next to him, a small pile of rocks

for a man named Galahand.