Page 75 of Save a Wish

When the ladies were done primping, I regarded myself in the mirror. “There she is. Princess Aislinn Síomóin of Verdalach. How I loathe her.” I turned to Laoise. “Tell Cian your work up here is complete and that the princess requests Orla and Fionn be sent to her at once.”

Laoise curtseyed and scurried from the room while I dismissed the other ladies. I sat on the edge of a chair trimmed in velvet, wishing with all I had that I was seated on the couch in Hank’s cabin.

Or better yet, snuggled deep in bed with Beckett wrapped around me.

He must have known I was gone by now. I was still unsure of the time, but it was dark outside and the flight was long and Verdalach was a different time zone than Vermont. Surely, enough time had passed, however, that Beckett had come to the cabin to pick me up for our costume shopping trip and had found me missing.

What had his reaction been? I probably should have left a note or texted, but Cian and my father had left no time for that. Maybe it was for the best. If Beckett believed I’d abandoned him without a second thought, he’d be angry and wouldn’t come looking for me and he’d be safe. We’d had a magical time together, but it was just a fond memory now. One I would cling to when I had to spend the rest of my days standing by Cian’s side as his wife.

A soft knock sounded on my door.

“Come in.”

I ran to Orla and Fionn the moment they stepped into my room. The three of us hugged so tightly I feared we’d snap each other in half.

“I missed you both so much!” I cried.

Orla squeezed me tighter. “Oh, this place was terrible without you in it.”

“The worst.” Fionn gave me an extra squeeze. “You are truly the only light in this whole damn country.”

“I’m so sorry you were arrested because of me.” I held each of their hands. “I was selfish in leaving.”

“No, you weren’t.” Orla wiggled our joined hands. “You were brave and we were so hopeful you’d get the life you wanted.”

“But you came back,” Fionn said. “Because of us. You came back to save us.”

“Of course. I would never let you suffer because of the part you played in helping me escape Verdalach.”

“We should have been more careful,” Orla lamented. “We came so close to truly freeing you.”

“Though we’re overjoyed to see you again,” Fionn said, “it breaks our hearts to know you were dragged back here.”

“Was it going well in America?” Orla asked.

I gestured for them both to sit with me by one of the floor-to-ceiling windows in my chambers. We huddled together in the dark and cold room.

“It was wonderful in America. Like a wish come true,” I began. “The heroes in your romance books, Orla? They’re real. I found one.”

I proceeded to tell them both about Beckett, his family, my business, my clients, Hank and the cabin, and the small-town charm of Greenridge, Vermont. When I was done, I ached for all of that even more.

“And now you’re stuck in a tragedy instead of a romance.” Orla’s shoulders slumped.

“Maybe we were crazy to think our plan to get me out of my obligations here would ever work.” I sighed and rubbed my temples, trying to alleviate the banging headache plaguing me. I should use some of my mindfulness techniques, but doing breathwork reminded me of everything I’d left behind in Vermont.

“I don’t think it was crazy,” Orla said. “We almost got away with it.”

“True,” Fionn said. “When it was first discovered that you were gone, Cian made a big show of barking orders about finding you. Your parents fully supported him and many resources were assembled to locate you. It was all hushed though so as not to draw public attention to your disappearance.” He drew in a breath and sifted it out slowly. “As the days passed, then the weeks, however, their eagerness to find you waned.”

Orla nodded. “It was as if they gave up. I overheard Cian asking your father about marrying one of your female cousins.”

Just as I’d suspected he’d do. His lust for power was not attached by any genuine feelings for anyone. Aside from himself.

“Then, that laundry staff member came forward,” Fionn said, “and the search was back on. In a matter of hours, Cian had us brought to him, accused us of helping you, showed us the picture of you at that mindfulness event and your website.”

“He suddenly knew exactly where you were, Fionn and I were arrested, and Cian and your parents were headed to America to bring you back,” Orla explained.

“And now we’re free, but you’re imprisoned again.” Fionn rubbed my arm.