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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

“I love you Everett Gathin, and I vow to never love another. From this day forward, you are my one and only.”

Our kiss seals the vows spoken in the cool morning air, and when his hands find the small of my spine, urging my body closer to his, something occurs to me.

“We might have to visit the river again sooner than I hoped,” I murmur against his hungry mouth.

Ever’s smile curves against mine, followed by a nip of his teeth. “I am afraid that we shall become like the fishes who never leave.”

44

“Unseelie hands are made for death and destruction.”

Unseelie Fae: A Scientific Study

Pressure on my bladder rouses me from a dreamless sleep. It isn’t until I open my eyes that I remember where I am—and whose massive arm is draped across my stomach. Ever clings to me, his head resting over my heart, holding me so tightly, my lungs can barely expand. I never want to leave this spot but doubt he would appreciate me relieving myself in his bed. It takes all my strength, but I manage to lift his arm and slip from beneath him. His face crushes up, so fierce, even in sleep.

With my shift nowhere to be found, I throw on my dress to hide my nakedness.

The fog outside is thick enough to stir with a spoon, the tiny droplets of water soaking into the silk gown, gluing the skirt to my thighs as I descend the stairs. No birds chirp in the trees. No squirrels dart or tarry. The only sound is that of the quiet trickle of water in the river beyond Ever’s wagon.

Not trusting myself to find my way back in this fog, I keep close to our camp, stepping behind a boulder to take care of my business. Perhaps we can fashion some sort of privy for ourselves nearby or purchase a chamber pot from the city.

Primitive, I know, but anything is better than the indignity of having to squat.

By the time I’ve finished, water droplets roll down my chest. The hair escaping my braid tightens into springy curls.

Something snaps behind me, and the hairs at the back of my neck lift at the unexpected sound. Slowly, I turn to see what made the noise only to find myself staring into the bloodred eyes of the biggest animal I’ve ever seen.

Not just an animal… A wolf.

The beast’s lips curl back from its teeth; blood drips down its maw, splattering the curled, brown leaves at my feet. I don’t know what it just killed but I know what it’s going to kill next.

Me.

Carefully, and without taking so much as a breath, I back toward the wagon, making it three steps before the muscles in the wolf’s shoulders tense.

“Ever,” I whisper even though there is no way he will be able to hear me.