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She beamed. "Of course, mistress. It would be my pleasure."

"And I’ll need some coordinating jewelry as well," I said to Helena.

"I’ll work directly with the gown maker."

"Please do."

I couldn’t wait to see the look on Forrest’s face.

Little sparrow, my foot.

CHAPTER 25

The Stolen Bride

Forrest arrived just as I was finishing supper. "Shall we?" he asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Don’t you want to eat first?"

"Not necessary," he said.

I narrowed my eyes and gave him a quick once over. It was hard to say with so many glamours in play, but I often found he looked tired. Maybe he wasn’t eating properly. "I find food very necessary. Take a roll," I wheedled, offering one out to him.

"Are you nagging, dearest?" He grinned.

I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned. "Of course not. Starve for all I care."

He bypassed my offered roll and snatched a dark blue faerie apple from the table and said, "As you wish." He took a sinful bite. The juice dripped down the corners of his mouth, and his tongue flicked out to lick it away.

I caught myself staring and quickly looked down. How could someone look so good eating a blighted apple? I certainly didn’t.

He gave me a wicked grin and offered his arm. "Ready, dearest?"

He was enjoying this way too much. I gave a belabored sigh but rose from my seat and accepted his arm, though I hardly needed a formal escort through the hallways of his private wing.

"I believe you wanted to chart our course," he reminded, leading me toward the large oak doors that led to the castle beyond.

At last, I had my chance! I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Hawthorne’s book had sparked an idea for how I might locate Briar. Best of all, it didn’t involve wandering the dangerous island after dark or asking a single fae for help, not even Forrest. I smiled up at him. "I’d like to see the greenhouses."

He looked pleased at my suggestion. "Why, I expected something far more deadly. You’ve surprised me again, little sparrow."

"You’ll find I can be very surprising," I said, feeling perhaps a touch too confident about my plan.

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Hmm, well, it will be pleasant enough to spend an evening where I’m not saving your hide from mortal peril."

"Let’s not forget who put my mortal hide in peril to begin with," I grumbled.

"I can hardly be blamed that humans have the lifespan of goldfish."

"Goldfish?" I gasped indignantly. "Is that how you see us?"

"Frankly, yes. At your best, you will live a century. I will live a millennium."

"So, you assume I will die first? How rude. For all we know, you’ll be cut down in battle," I declared, pointing a finger at his chest.

"How kind of you to say."

The corner of my lip twitched upward. "We shall see who outlives the other."