I knew nothing at all, it seemed. Except for her.
Ginger.
I kept seeing this vision, of her adorned in a silken gown, hand in mine, gazing at me with longing in her eyes.
With love—for nothing else could bring that look of adoration to one’s face.
My stomach twisted into deep knots at the thought of letting her slip away, of drifting to another town without the woman in my grasp.
She was mine, and I would do whatever it took to have her.
Whateverit took.
I lifted the goblet to my mouth and let the wine slip over my tongue, down my throat. I fought the urge to cough. It wasawful.
But she had brought it to me.
Forcing the rancid liquid down my throat, I watched the woman, examining her every move, studying her every expression, and I began to formulate a plan.
Whatever it took.
CHAPTER 4
Ginger
Brambleby was antsy that evening as I carried him to Kizzi’s apothecary tucked under my arm, beneath the warmth of my cloak.
Instead of flopping freely, he was alert. Squirmy. His wing twitched against my side as if he wanted to take flight.
I wasnotallowing that to happen. Not today.
I wasn’t in the mood to chase the little beast around town, like that time when Ember had escaped.Thatwas a nightmare.
Bram was still just a baby, mere days out of his egg. Though he seemed able to take care of himself well enough, I couldn’t quash the urge to protect him. To nurture him. To guard him from all the scary pieces of life.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose.
My paranoia wasreallygetting out of hand.
Still, I glanced over my shoulder, but I saw nothing out of the ordinary. Only folk going about their business and critters scurrying to and fro.
A wayward breeze sent a shiver skittering down my spine.
“Kiz! I’m here. Let me in!” I shouted as I banged on the door to Kizzi’s apothecary. I wasn’t sure if she would even hear me, her enhanced protection enchantments were a little excessive. She needed a chime or something to alert her when guests arrived after she locked up for the day.
I couldn’t necessarily blame her—she had a precious beast to protect—but it was still inconvenient.
I wondered if I would need to enhance protections in my own cottage, or even my pub. I typically didn’t bother, crime in Moonvale was nonexistent, but with this eerie feeling I’d been having…
Was it merely normal paranoia that came with newfound motherhood, or something more sinister?
I knocked again, louder this time. Brambleby flinched in my grasp.
“Oh! Sorry, little guy.” Quieter, I hissed, “Kizziah!”
Finally, the door cracked open, just a sliver. A green eye stared back at me. “Ginger?”
I lifted Brambleby into her view. “I brought a friend. Can I come in?”
