Her questions made Haydn’s eyes light up, and Evelyn had the sudden feeling of being caught in a spider’s web. It didn’t help that he was still holding her wrist.
“Yes,” he said, tilting her chin up higher. “You would be my equal. Does that appeal to you?”
“What’s the catch? Other than being stuck withyou.”
“You wouldn’t be a princess anymore, and you would leave the continent.”
That sounds really nice right now, to be honest. I never wanted to be a princess in the first place.
“There has to be more to it,” she said.
“You’re trying to imagine the worst. I think you’ll find I’m not all that bad.”
“Then tell me about your magic. I know it’s not just silly Bargains.”
“I can’t tell you. Not yet.”
“And I’m supposed to take your word for it?”
Haydn thought about it. “I can give you a glimpse of what your life would be like with me.”
“How? Will I have another tattoo?”
“No. This isn’t Bargain magic.” Haydn tapped his temple. “It will feel real, like you’re standing in Lochmatten with me, but it’s all in your mind.”
“You’ll be in my head?”
“Yes, but just for the visions. I can’t read your thoughts or play games in there. It won’t even hurt. But I won’t do it unless you want me to.”
This is already more information than he’s given me before. But I’m so, so curious.
“You’ll show me your magic?” Evelyn asked, stalling for time.
“Stop being nervous. Say yes.”
Oh, this is a bad idea.
“Yes.”
Haydn looped a hand around the back of her neck and whispered, “Look.”
Suddenly, Evelyn was on the deck of a ship, approaching a coastline with rocky cliffs, evergreen trees, and castle towers peeking out of the canopy. The only building that could be fully seen from the water was a lighthouse. The forest was a fortress.
This is Lochmatten? Even their own shores are hiding secrets?
Haydn wrapped his arms around her from behind, his body a warm barrier against the harsh winds. He kissed the back of her head. “Welcome to your new home.”
The scene changed and Evelyn stood inside the base of a hollow castle tower. She had to tilt her head back to barely see the top of it. The circular walls were covered in bookshelves, with occasional gaps for windows. Every eight feet up, a horizontal ledge jutted out from the wall, creating a ring where visitors could stand to browse the books.
Haydn took Evelyn’s hand. “Do you like my library?”
“How do you get to the books? There aren’t any stairs.”
“Magic. I’ll show you later.”
Evelyn’s vision shifted again and she was in a different room. She could tell it was a large space, like a ballroom, but it was too dark around the edges to see details. A row of high windows along one wall provided the only illumination, but the sun was setting.
Haydn appeared in front of her. “Are you ready?”
