“We’re not missing this,” Rowan declared, hands on her hips. Both sisters stopped short, gasping in unison.
“Oh, she’s perfect,” Saffra breathed.
Rowan grinned wickedly. “Do you think our darling brother will cry?”
Saffra laughed. “Definitely.”
They didn’t even wait for Kara’s indignant protest before sweeping back out again, their laughter trailing into the hall. A moment later, Saffra’s sing-song voice sounded through the door, “Better find a handkerchief, Seb!”
Kara groaned dramatically, but couldn’t stop the laugh that broke through. She had never been this happy.
That night, Sebastian insisted they go for a walk in the gardens after dinner. They hadn’t gotten far when he pulled her down to sit with him on a bench.
“Sebastian, what–”
He pulled a small velvet box from the inside of his cloak.
“I couldn’t leave you,” he explained, “so I sent my sisters to Blackwell village a couple of weeks ago. With specific instructions.”
He placed the box into her hands, suddenly unsure. “I should have had it when I proposed but...” he trailed off, nervous. Worried she wouldn’t like it. It spilled through the bond.
Silly. Of course I will.
She opened the box, and gasped. Nestled inside was a shining emerald, with small diamonds on either side, set in a simple Thorne silver band.
“Green for Hale–” he began.
“Sebastian,” she breathed. “It’s absolutelyperfect.”
His face broke into a relieved, radiant smile. “You like it?”
“Iloveit,” she assured him as she held out her left hand. “Well, will you do the honours, Lord Thorne?”
He flushed and fumbled taking the ring from the box, nerves getting the better of him. He placed it carefully on her finger. A perfect fit.
Of course it is, the man misses nothing.
She held up her hand, watching in admiration as the emerald shone in the moonslight.
“In a few days,” Sebastian said, pulling her into his arms, “you’ll be my wife.”
She leaned into him gladly. “I can’t wait.”
It was the next morning that the letter came. A Hale seal, written in her father’s hand.
I cannot in good conscience attend,as I do not condone this union.
The formal distance in his words stung worse than anger would have – but it was a refusal nonetheless. He would not come. Her stomach sank. Kara hadn’t expected different. Known, deep down, that would have been his answer. But until she’d read it in black and white, she’d held hope that he might have found it in his heart to be happy for her.
Apparently not.
The parchment shook as she lowered it. She wouldn’t let herself cry. Not over Alaric Hale. She had too much to be thankful for, so much light in her life, she wouldn’t let this overshadow it. Sebastian read the letter over her shoulder, anger radiating from him.
“He’s a fool,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “He doesn’t deserve to stand beside you.”
Kara said nothing. She sat quietly in his arms, knowing he could feel the hurt in her, but he didn’t push. An hour later, another hawk arrived.
A second Hale seal.
