Page 141 of A Court Bright and Broken

It felt like a wildfire had ignited in my mind, my thoughts consumed by the hot flames.

How could I not have recognized her? How could she have appeared so different?

And why would she have waited so long to tell me?

“I don’t understand. How is this possible?” I asked.

“It’s rather a long story,” she said. “The short of it is, our village mother gave me the dress and the shoes and transformed my appearance so I’d fit in better, so I could…”

After a pause she finished. “... attend the ball. And there might have been a… love spell. I’m not sure.”

Her face flushed dark pink, and she looked like she might cry.

“But she didn’t warn me about that. I’m so sorry for deceiving you, for not telling you sooner. I wasn’t completely sure I could trust you—not until just now.”

A sense of wonder had me in a daze.

“I can hardly point fingers. When you metme, I was disguised as a human peasant. How did she ‘transform’ you?”

Her shoulders lifted and fell. “Magic, I guess? She’s an Earthwife. I’m not sure how they do what they do.”

“That explains why ‘Wyn’ seemed taller than you.”

Letting out a chuckle, I said, “So the woman my father’s troops have been scouring the region for, carrying a sparkly shoe no less, has been here all along.”

Raewyn nodded, looking fearful. I wasn’t sure why. As far as I was concerned, this was phenomenal news.

Memories from the ball collided with those I’d made with Raewyn these past two weeks. Why had I not seen it sooner?

Or maybe I had. Had a part of me known all along?

When I’d heard her voice, when I’d seen those eyes… I knew there was no way two people could have possessed eyes like that.

This explained so much—how Lady Wyn could have disappeared without a trace—and how I had moved so quickly from feeling like I lovedherto loving Raewyn.

And Ihadn’tbeen under a spell.

I knew what I felt, and my feelings weren’t fickle. In fact, they hadn’t changed since the day I’d met Raewyn, except to grow stronger.

Drawing her into my arms, I held her tightly and sank my face into her fragrant hair.

“I am so happy.”

She wiggled, and I released my hold enough to allow her to draw back and see my face.

“You’re not angry?” she asked.

“Not at all. I’m relieved, honestly,” I said. “Now I know why I was so enchanted by the ‘Elven stranger’ then forgot about her as soon as I sawyouagain.”

Gazing down at her in awe, I said. “And now I’m even more certain about the reason I came back tonight, about the question I wanted to ask you. I think I started falling for you the moment I saw you in the marketplace.”

I stroked her cheek, marveling at its softness.

“When I woke to see you holding that flaming torch with that fierce, beautiful look on your face, the deed was done. My heart was lost. And the fact you went to such lengths to attend the ball and see me again, well… I’m beyond flattered and delighted.”

Taking her hands in mine, I said, “In spite of their challenges, these last two weeks with you have been the happiest of my life.”

“There’s more I should tell you about that night,” she said, her tone grave with trepidation.

---