Page 41 of Shattered Vows

Anger rises to the forefront as it always does when I think about all the people who have let me down over my lifetime.

Yes, I can do this. I can show Rapsody what it feels like when someone plays with your emotions without thinking of the consequences.

With that thought in mind, I push back from my desk and leave my bedroom. When I knock on Rapsody’s door, there’s no answer. Frowning, I continue down the hallway until I reach the communal part of the manor.

I quickly check the conservatory, but I don’t find her there. I take a moment to admire the painting she’s working on of a night sky, moonlight bathing the world below.

Continuing on my quest, I decide to check the kitchen. It’s always alive with activity. Surely someone there might know where I can find her.

Halfway to my destination, I come across Marcel speaking with his partner, Finn, in the hallway. When they notice my footsteps, they take a step back from each other. They must think they’re being stealthy and none of us know they’re a couple.

“Where’s Rapsody?” I don’t bother with pleasantries.

Marcel turns to face me, chin up. “I saw her leave the manor a few minutes ago.”

“Where was she heading?”

“I’m not sure, sir, but she went out the door closest to the maze.” He motions in the general direction.

The maze. Just fucking great.

I don’t say anything as I move past them, hurrying to catch up to her. I have no idea if she’s planning on going into the maze, but if I don’t beat her there before she goes in, my plan for the day will be a bust. Having to spend time there during Asher and Anabelle’s wedding ceremony was bad enough. If I ever have to go in there again, it will be too soon.

A couple of minutes later, I step outside and find her standing at the entrance to the maze.

“Rapsody,” I call, jogging over to her.

She looks at me over her shoulder and smiles.

God, that fucking smile could light up the sky if the sun weren’t already out.

“What are you doing?” I ask when I reach her.

She motions to the maze. “I was thinking of going in to check it out, but when I got here, I was worried I might not be able to find my way out.”

I swallow.

“Do you want to go in with me? You must know your way around. You were probably in here a million times when you were a kid.”

The blood drains from my face as a cold sweat breaks out on my forehead.

Rapsody steps toward me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah… I…” My gaze goes over her shoulder to the maze and the twelve-foot hedges that feel as though they’re towering over us.

All of those memories from my childhood assault me at once, like bullets ripping through my calm demeanor. When Rapsody takes my hand, the frenzy of thoughts calm so they’re not so overwhelming.

“Do you want to go somewhere else?” She squeezes my hand.

“Yeah. I came to find you to see if you want to go to the pond with me.”

She looks over her shoulder at the maze then back at me. “Let’s go.”

We walk in silence for a while, which is good. It gives me time to put myself back together. I avoid that fucking maze whenever possible because it’s a damn trigger. Asher offered to cut it down for me at least a decade ago, but my mom’s prized rose bush is in the middle, so I didn’t have it in me to say yes. It would have felt like severing a tie to her.

Rapsody seems to be in tune with the fact that I need to get my shit together and doesn’t speak until the pond comes into view.

“How come you wanted to come here?” she asks as we walk down the slope toward the water.

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