BooksBarbecue
Back For Ever Save as PDF
Chapters (63)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Map of the Willowhaven
  4. Map of Rosehill City
  5. Foreword
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. Epilogue
  62. Map of Rosehill City
  63. Also by Jenny Hickman

That cannot be true. There has not been a curfew in decades. “Why would he do that?”

“A couple of cute little fuzzy animals killed and whatnot. Probably a weasel or fox by the sounds of it.”

“How did you find out?”

“River told me this morning.”

“And you did not think this was something I would like to know?”

He lifts a shoulder. “I did not think you would care because you already have a mate.”

A mate I never wanted in the first place. I should march straight over to the chieftain’s home and explain everything. But then that would mean pitting myself against his daughter.

Even if she told him the truth, he might not forgive me for the role I played in stringing her along.

I had hoped that Leah would get tired of waiting and choose someone else, not force my hand.

All he will see is betrayal after betrayal.

“The Seelie did not institute a curfew for a fucking weasel or a fox.” There is only one beast that would result in such a panic. “They think a wolf crossed the bridge.” If a wolf did somehow manage to cross the bridge, then no one in Rosehill is safe.

Kerris is not safe.

I need to go to her. I need to⁠—

He shoves the spoon toward me, reddish-brown liquid dripping like blood down the wood, splattering into the pot. “Sit your ass back down. No wolves crossed the canyon. Everyone in this camp knows how imperative it is to protect the bridge. I asked those who were on duty while we were gone if they have seen signs of a wolf, and do you know what all of them said?”

I bet he is going to tell me.

“They said there have been no tracks in the forests or on the paths. Whatever did this… it was not a wolf.” He tosses the spoon into the pot. “I have a theory though. But you are not going to like it.”

I do not like many things I have heard over the last couple of days but that has not stopped me from listening. “Tell me anyway.”

His eyes narrow. “I do not think the curfew has anything to do with wild animals at all. I think they are trying to keep an Unseelie fae from stealing their prince’s bride.”

35

“The ancient practice of marking one’s mate with one’s teeth is as barbaric as it seems.”

Unseelie Fae: A Scientific Study

The stiff wood of my window ledge digs into my backside as I stare into the night, wishing I could see Ever.

Eventually, they will catch the wolf that prowls our streets, then the curfew will be lifted, and life can go back to normal. Until then, all I can do is try to find a semblance of patience and fill my days with plenty of walks so my legs and mind are tired by nightfall.