Cyrus cleared his throat. “I believe Miss Swift is inquiring upon your wedding night designs, Your Highness.”
I felt pale.
“If you prefer something special, I could create a new set. Let me grab my measuring tape.” Lydia spun.
“No, no,” I begged, stopping her. “No, thank you but no... Mr. Evergreen is here and… Excuse me.”
With a long, disorienting step toward the door, I gracefullystumbledout.
Chapter 14
“Svana!” Mr. Evergreen called. “Wait!”
I fled through the crowd and took every which way, every turn that I could find. I didn’t understand why he’d left after me, yet he was relentless. Finally, he found me at a dead end—an alley the city had forgotten about.
“What are you doing?” he huffed. “Do youwantto be robbed?”
“Robbed?” I asked.
He grabbed by hand and brought me toward the street but we were met by two unsavory-looking types. One held a knife and they blocked our path.
“Give us the purse,” the taller one hissed. “Copper and no one gets hurt.”
Evergreen let go, stepping forward and unsheathing his broadsword in a flourish that scared even me. It caught every scrap of light as it snaked around either side of his body and cast its glimmer back upon their faces before the point settled directly at them.
“A very bad decision,” he said. “Is copper worth your life?”
The men looked at each other and must have decided it was not. Theyranfrom him, nearly tripping as they went.
I heard him breathe, before he turned. His blade went back into the holster with a metallicclink, and he was furious.
“Neverleave me like that again, Svana!” he cried.
The reality of what had happened hit me seconds into his scowl, but as soon as I had begun to react, Mr. Evergreen's face fell and he swept me into his chest. His arms were tight around my frame.
“Forgive me,”he begged, speaking into the side of my hair. “Are you alright, love? That should’ve been my first demand.”
“Oh, God,” I whined. “Oh, my god. Had you not come after me!”
“But I did,” he said. He met and held face. “I did come after you and I always will. Do you understand? I willalwayscome for you, Swan!”
Tears burned the edges of my eyes and my fingers drilled into his shirt. I nodded, pulling him closer and feverishly kissing him. Cyrus’ hand slid down my back, but after a brief moment of surrender, he took a staggering step away, and looked out into the market.
“We should go,” he said.
“Is it Lydia?” I asked.
“Back at the shop? Yeah.”
“No, I…”
“Does she not handle your gowns? I was sure you'd met.”
“No, not… Is Miss Lydia why you’re acting…Is she why…? It wasn'tcoincidencewe wound up there today, was it?”
“Coincidence?” he asked. “No. No, notcoincidence. Habit.”
“What?”
