Page 45 of Anwen of Primewood (The Eldentimber #2)

He nods as he takes my hand and places it on his chest. “I’m broken.” His lips tip in a teasing, lopsided smile. “And it’s a wound that will never heal.”

My own heart picks up its pace, and I swallow. “Never?”

“There’s one way to fix it.” He leans closer. His eyes are bright in the dim light. “Should we see if it works?”

I try not to laugh like a lovesick milkmaid.

“Do you love me, Anwen?” he asks, so close, his breath mingles with mine.

“I do love you.”

My eyes close as we meet in a soft kiss, and I sigh against him when he wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me closer.

“Elope with me,” he murmurs against my lips. “Tonight.”

I pull back, surprised. “Why must we elope?”

“We must,” he murmurs, “because I’m not spending another day apart from you.”

I laugh, unable to contain my happiness. That laughter fades when he produces a wooden box from behind his back. There’s a secret in his eyes, and I lean forward.

“I’ve already asked your father for permission. In case you’re curious, he said yes.”

He opens the box and offers it to me. I gasp and reach for the ring only to pull my hand back.

The setting takes my breath away. “How is this possible?”

Galinor smiles. “I went back to Triblue after we parted and scoured the streets near the festival grounds for a stray remaining piece. Finally, I found one.”

I gingerly stroke the stone. “You had the changeling stone made into a ring?”

Galinor nods. “A piece of it, at least.”

I stare at him, my heart so full I don’t know how to contain my joy. “You did this for me?”

“I would do anything for you.” He wraps his fingers through mine. “I understand love now. There is no feat I would not perform to be with you—no task too large, no item too obscure to find. Marry me, Anwen.”

I grin, biting my lip because I’m about to cry. “Yes.”

His expression shifts to cryptic. “There’s one more thing. ”

Galinor rises and disappears out the door. I gasp when he comes back with a curious, bright-eyed bundle of fur in his arms.

Danver.

I pull the fox to me and rub my face against him. “How?”

Danver sniffs my face in greeting and then pulls away from my tight grasp to explore the bed.

“He wasn’t quite lost.” Galinor sits next to me and squeezes my hand. “Ergmin saved him.”

Galinor waits for me at the crossroads just outside the village, and he lowers his hood when I approach.

This time I know I’ve made no mistake.

Mara tosses her head, excited by the promise of a night ride. Behind us, a silent Pika follows, and there is the flash of Danver’s white tail in the woods.

“We will reach Evershorne by early morning,” Galinor says when I join him. “We will marry there and then travel south through Murin into Triblue.”

“Why Triblue?” I ask.

Galinor grins in the moonlight. “We must find your whales. And when I found your stone, I promised Dristan and Bran I would bring my bride back to charm the new wild foals.”

I laugh. “At that time, you didn’t know I would be your bride.”

His eyes meet mine, and he raises an eyebrow. “I knew. It was only a matter of convincing you. ”

We ride for almost an hour. Just ahead, firelight shines through the trees. Uneasy, I send Galinor a questioning glance. As we draw near, I see a caravan cart.

“It’s all right,” Galinor says. “They’re most likely drunk by this time of night. We will slip by, and they will never know.”

“Do you think they were with Dimitri?”

Galinor shakes his head, but I can tell he’s not sure.

The camp is indeed quiet, but a few figures stand outside, silhouetted by the campfire’s glow.

We’ve almost passed when a voice calls out, “Thought you would leave without us, did you?”

Galinor turns his horse, his hand automatically seeking a weapon. The party comes forward, laughing. I blink when the group draws near enough I recognize them in the night.

“Irving?” I ask, incredulous. “Marigold? Teagan?”

Irving grins and leans against a tree. “Not going to invite us to the wedding?” He shakes his head as if disgusted.

“Is it true?” Marigold ignores Irving and steps forward. “Galinor told Teagan you are eloping!”

I laugh and nod, still surprised to see them.

“We’re coming with you.” Marigold links her arm through Teagan’s and beams at him. “Aren’t we?”

Teagan smiles down at her. “I believe we are.”

Galinor stares down at them all, still bewildered by their presence. “If you’re coming, get your cart and hurry up. We won’t wait all night for you.”

The trio scrambles to break camp. I half expect to see Rosie, though I know she is far away in Triblue. My mind shifts to yesterday’s conversation with Irving. I hope we will see her again.

I ride to Galinor’s side and laugh. He gives me an exasperated look but the expression shifts to a smile.

The sun just peeks over the horizon when the five of us reach the southern village where Galinor and I will wed.

Galinor takes my hand. “Are you ready?”

“More than ready.”

In the sleepy village, just after dawn, Galinor slides the changeling stone over my finger. The stone is still; the magic is gone, lost when the stone was broken. But it shimmers in the morning light with the memory of something exquisite.

More, it shimmers with the promise of something exquisite yet to come.