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Grace held her breath, waiting for his answer, knowing the truth but wondering if he’d realize what it meant.

“Yes. And in the mayor’s copse.”

She smiled. He’d given himself away. James hadn’t been with them when they investigated Willa’s gold-splattered door. Not that she’d needed the proof any longer. “It’s called Zerudorn gold. It’s a mystic resource that has been in Sherwood Forest since before the formation of the continent. It’s dangerous, as you saw. The last of the old sorcerers gave my ancestors a charge to keep it contained, and to keep Fidara and all of Leiloa safe. But we lost some of the gold—when Mr. Milner was hanged as the Rogue. He stole some of it. I imagine that’s how the mayor got it, though Mr. Milner’s wife swore it had been buried somewhere safe.”

“Gold? Your goal is to protect gold?” Grace could hear the disappointment in his tone. The mayor valued gold, riches, power, and went to all lengths to have it. But that wasn’t what the Protectors did.

“To protect Fidarafromthe gold. If people found out about it… well, you see how simple, monetary gold is treated. This gold would be sought and taken, and scattered across the entire continent. Only, it warps whatever it touches, and soon everything and everyone we know would be destroyed.”

“So, when I threatened to tell the national authorities… you couldn’t take that risk. You had to go with the mayor’s option.”

“If I wanted to keep the gold secret, the mayor’s option seemed the best choice.”

“I see. Thank you for telling me. And I’ll help the best I can, but Grace, what matters to me are these people—our people. Not that the entire continent doesn’t matter, but these people matter enough to be helped.”

Grace shifted to look at him again. “I love that about you.”

The Rogue froze, staring at her.

“I spent a lot of time berating you for the risk you were taking,” she said, “but what you are doing is an incredible act of courage and so very much who you are.”

She played with the edge of the cloak, letting her hand rest on his chest. His breath was ragged. Hers wasn’t much better.

“You are… amazing,” Grace said, “You are tender and shy. You are stubborn and determined. You are far more flirty with a mask on. And you are far more important to me than I thought possible.” She took in a shaky breath. “You are nothing like your father, Garrick. ”

He trembled a bit, and she looked up into his eyes. Slowly, she reached up for the face cloth. He didn’t jerk away. She pulled it down below his chin, letting her hand brush his stubble. Then she pinched the edge of his mask. He brought his hand up and placed it atop hers, trapping it against the mask. He looked a bit terrified.

“I see you,” she whispered, and gripped the edge of the mask. He held on to her hand as she pulled the mask from his face.

Garrick’s eyes scanned her in rapid movements, his breaths coming in quick.

She dropped the mask and placed her hand on his cheek. At her touch, Garrick leaned into her hand, closing his eyes, savoring the moment.

“Hello,” she said.

His eyes flicked open, hazel irises shiny with unshed tears. “Hi.”

Taking the clasp from her pocket once again, she undid the plain bronze clasp he’d been using and replaced it with the silver-leaf clasp of a true Protector.

When she finished, she kept hold of his cloak and pulled him gently toward her, leaning in. He didn’t resist, placing his lips atop hers. As they kissed, he slid his arms around her waist, and she melted into him.

Chapter 26

Grace was lost in the heady thrill of kissing Garrick when the door of the shed burst open.

Garrick and Grace jerked apart.

“Well, well, well… if it isn’t my lucky day.” A sneer that resembled pleasure spread across James’s face.

Grace’s heart dropped as her eyes flitted to the mask on the floor.

Garrick wasn’t wearing his mask!

“Garrick Clairmont, the Rogue. Tsk tsk. Your father will be so disappointed.” James smiled. “The mayor can’t possibly keep the father of his greatest enemy as his right-hand man.” He laughed. “Finally,” he said, scanning Grace with disgust, “I never have to fake a vapid smile at you again.”

Anger flared in Grace. How dare he speak like that about either of them!

Garrick uttered a guttural growl.