Page 11 of Apples Dipped in Gold

The prince was quiet for a moment.

“You have a strange way of making me feel very insecure,” he said.

“It was only an observation,” I said.

He lifted his hand, and I could not help but flinch. He quickly lowered it again.

“I won’t hurt you,” he said, his voice gentle, yet I did not believe him.

“So you say.”

“I will prove it in time,” he said.

There was a part of me that wanted to hope he was honorable and would keep his word, but I had already let myself hope once, and it had only led to disappointment.

“You may not want to after you meet my brothers.”

We were silent after that, and I found myself worrying over what my brothers would say when they arrived home to find a handsome prince asking for my hand in marriage. I was certain they would not expect it, because they did not think it possible that anyone could ever want me. I was not even sure this was real. Maybe it was just one of Hans’s cruel pranks.

Why would a prince of Rook be wandering through the woods in Gnat alone? The longer I thought, the more suspicious I grew, and my body responded in kind. I straightened my back and leaned forward, attempting to put as much distance between me and the prince as I could, though the horse did not allow for much, and the prince only tightened his hold around my waist.

“Do not be afraid,” he said.

“I don’t know how,” I said.

“You do not know how?” he repeated.

“I have only ever been afraid,” I said.

Again Henry did not speak, and I was certain he did not know what to do with me.

Once we came to the creek, the prince led River along the bank, up and down every hill, past my mother’s and father’s graves, to the doorstep of my weathered cottage where my three brothers waited. They eachcarried a weapon—Hans an axe, Michal a bow, and Jackal a sword.

“What is the meaning of this?” asked Michal.

The prince dismounted and then held his hand out for me. I did not take it and instead slipped off River’s back and put distance between him, myself, and my brothers.

“Good sirs,” he said, taking off his feathered hat and holding it to his breast. “I am Prince Henry of the Kingdom of Rook. I happened upon your sister in the wood, and I would like to have her to wife. What say you?”

There was a long pause, and Hans was the first to laugh, followed by Michal, but what scared me the most was that Jackal had yet to speak or even blink.

“You want to marry our sister?” Hans asked, still laughing. “You’d be better off marrying a pig!”

“Aye,” said Michal. “And a pig is prettier.”

“I am certain we are not speaking of the same woman,” said the prince, whose voice was stern.

“He has been bespelled!” said Michal.

“Enchanted, I assure you,” said the prince.

“Prince,” said Hans. “You have looked upon the fae, and they have given you false eyes!”

“I have gazed upon no fae,” said the prince. “I have only the assurance that I have met my future wife, your sister. I will ask once again for her hand in marriage.”

There was a quiet pause after the prince finished speaking.

Michal shook his head in disbelief. “Are you hearing this, Jackal?”