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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

Two guards rush to open the gates, while a third keeps track of me. I’ve had plenty of time to go over what I want to say, how best to appeal to the king. I only have one shot and cannot fail.

The carriage rolls to a stop where I stand, but my hope vanishes the moment the curtain swings aside and I find the queen sitting inside.

“Kerris Dawn. What a surprise. I was under the impression that my son was no longer courting you.”

And from the smile in the queen’s cool tone, the thought pleases her. Yet another reason to be relieved my dealings with that cad are through. “I’m not here to see Ronan. I would like to see the king.”

The queen tugs on her lace gloves, adjusting the hem at her wrist. “My husband is a very busy man. Is there something that I might be able to help you with?”

How can I ask for help when she’s the one who wants the bridge closed?

What other choice do I have?

“I heard a rumor about the bridge being closed and am concerned about the wellbeing of the Unseelie across The Divide.”

“And what of the wellbeing of those in Rosehill? Or do our lives matter less than theirs?”

“Of course, not⁠—”

“Then you must know that, as Queen of Willowhaven, it is my duty, first and foremost, to protect my people. That bridge has brought nothing but trouble since the day it was built.”

“Please. I’m begging you. If access is cut off, you’ll be damning them all.”

Her smile returns. “Good day, Miss Dawn.” She calls to the driver. The whip cracks, and the horses lurch forward, the carriage gliding away on gilded wheels.

I leave without even a spark of hope in my veins.

The bridge has been closed and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

48

“Sometimes there is nowhere to go but down."

Author Unknown

I don’t bother hailing a carriage to bring me back to Nia’s, instead using the time it takes to reach her street to compose myself and rack my brain for solutions. I’m empty, completely drained, my steps trudging, my heart floundering.

My aunt and uncle are outside, along with Nia and a few of the neighbors.

Aunt Cordelia must be sick over my disappearance, and now I’m going to have to explain where I’ve been or come up with some other plausible excuse for going missing. If she learns the truth, she is sure to kick me out.

Nia breaks away from the group, running toward me. It isn’t until she’s nearly at my side that I see the tears tracking down her ashen face. “Kerris! Oh, thank heavens you’re back safe. I’ve been at my wits’ end.”

“Why? What’s the matter?”