Clover stayed in the classroom during lunch too, opting to read or draw rather than join the other students outside for fresh air. Amelia didn’t know if she was painfully shy, preferred the quiet like Amelia did, or just hated people in general.
Amelia’s heart sank each time she tried to start a conversation, but curiosity replaced her disappointment when she realizedClover always found her way to Amelia, no matter the circumstance.
They didn’t look alike, but they did have a few of the same attributes, namely long blonde hair and tall statures, but that’s where their similarities ended. Clover’s skin was a shade darker than Amelia’s own light beige and their bone structures were completely different. Where Amelia had soft features and a round face, Clover had high cheekbones and a defined jawline.
They ate, read, and walked to school together, all while Amelia talked and Clover listened, occasionally commenting here and there. They’d go to the library together, and if Amelia wanted to stop somewhere on the way to or from school, Clover followed without complaint.
Clover looked up from her book and caught Amelia staring at her. Embarrassed, Amelia turned back to her own book.
“Hey,” Clover called in her whisper-quiet voice. She hopped up from where she sat and held out her open book to Amelia, tapping on a paragraph. “This is my favorite part. I think you’ll like it.”
Amelia leaned forward to read the passage and realized she’d read the book several times before, and to her surprise, it was one of her favorite parts, too. The scene always made her laugh, and the fact that Clover thought she would like it and chose to share it made her laugh harder than usual. She beamed at the mysterious girl, who returned her smile and retreated to her spot.
Amelia had all the confirmation she needed that she’d officially made her first real friend.
FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY
Letter #4
Happy Birthday,Darling,
I’m sorry I haven’t written much. I don’t know what to talk to you about because you can’t reply, and I feel stupid telling you about myself when you didn’t ask, but for the sake of the bond, I will.
I do normal things like hang out with my friends or go hunting with my best friend, Finn, and our other friend, Ora. She’s a terrible shot, but we’re teaching her to track so she doesn’t accidentally put an arrow through one of our necks. I’m not hopeful.
Finn and I have to train a lot, but Ora says it’s too hard to fight in a dress. She could wear pants like the female warriors, but when Finn told her that, she cried.Girls can be weird.
I swear I do more than two things. I just can’t think of any others right now.
Some of my hobbies might not match up with yours, or maybe they will. I guess we’ll see one day. If not, we can find other things to do together that we both like. I’ll ask Ora to help me think of things.
I have to study, or my father will tan my hide, but I’ll try to write more.
Your Mate,
Nick
P.S. I felt you laughing yesterday. I wish I could have heard you too.
4
ONE YEAR LATER
Rennick inspected the bow and quiver full of arrows appreciatively. “And you’re sure she’ll like it?” he asked Ora.
Ora’s father, Tully, had been the king’s advisor for years, and since she and Rennick were the same age—theexactsame age—her father brought her to the palace almost every day. They’d known each other for almost seven years, and wherever Finn and Rennick went, Ora followed.
Finn crossed his arms, looking skeptical. “I told you to do something else. You don’t know if she likes to hunt.”
Ora mirrored his stance and threw her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “And I said it’s exactly something she’d want. What do you know about girls?”
Finn stared her down in a battle of wills. “My sister hates it.”
“Not all girls are the same,Finnigan,” she sneered.
Rennick ignored them both. They were always at each other’s throats for one reason or another.
Two weeks prior, Ora had confronted him because she’d overheard her parents discussing Rennick finding his mate. As the king’s advisor, Tully knew Rennick’s mate lived in anotherkingdom and wouldn’t move to the Mountain Kingdom until he took the throne, but that was it.
