Page 13

“I can’t be back during the week, but on the weekend, if you like, I…” My voice trailed off.

“I would like that very much, Nikolai.”

It was weirdly sexy to hear him use my full name. Most people called me Nik or one of the fifteen nicknames my teammates and our fans had for me.

“Same,” I mumbled.

“You need to go through the archway.” Jules pointed to a spot behind me. I turned, expecting to see nothing but the forest.

“What the fuck? Where did that come from?”

“It’s a glamour, an enchantment,” he explained when he spotted my puzzled face. “Only I can lift it and let people through. See? You could never have found a way back.”

My curiosity got the better of me. “How did I get through if it’s enchanted? Or does it only work from this side?”

“I don’t know.” Jules shrugged apologetically. “It happens sometimes, but I haven’t been able to figure out what makes the people who end up in my forest different from the ones who don’t.”

“Maybe it’s a glitch in the glamour,” I suggested.

“It could be that. Every power has its limits, I suppose. You will be able to find it in the future, though, now that I have revealed its location to you.”

“Oh, that’s good.” I hummed. “Thanks for saving me, Jules.”

His bright smile lit up the morning.

“Thank you for being my guest, Nikolai. It was very special to have a friend in my home.”

Friendzoned by the hot hermit.Story of my life.

“It was my pleasure.”

God, the pleasure I want to share with you, pretty boy.

“Will I see you again next weekend?” Jules asked once more, and I nodded.

“Then I will be waiting for your return.”

Am I reading too much into this, or does it sound like he wants more than friendship?

There was only one way to find out. As I walked back to my car on the other side of the arch, I vowed to visit him next week. It might come to nothing, but I had to find out if he was interested in me.

At least then I’ll know.

Ten

Jules

ImissedNikolaifromthemoment he stepped through the arch between my forest and the labyrinth.

He probably only said he would be back so I would help him. He had every right.Who in their right mind trusts the Höimann?

Yet a seed of hope took hold in my soul. It spread its roots through my body as I deep cleaned my house and stocked up on whatever food I could find.

The week crept by and flew past at the same time. One moment it was Monday afternoon and the weekend seemed ages away, the next it was Thursday afternoon, and I harvested rhubarb with Barnabas to make a pie for my guest.

Time is an illusion.

All week, I made mental notes of what I wanted to show him: my orchard, the chickens, my greenhouse, the fish pond with the water lilies that would start blooming pink in a few short weeks. My bedroom.