The Seelie love furs, especially in winter. If I spend every waking moment hunting, I will have enough pelts to pay for a small house across the canyon. Kerris deserves a castle, but if she was willing to stay in my barrel-top, she would not mind some place small until I can afford to give her something larger.

I will resign myself to living the rest of my days being hated in her sun-drenched world if it means I get to share a life with her.

He cards a hand through his hair, his bare chest heaving as if he ran all the way here. “You have not heard?”

Gryffin jogs into view, his feet sure as they eat up the distance between us. “What the hell are you doing?” he bellows.

“He does not know,” Maddox throws over his shoulder.

Gryffin skids to a halt next to Maddox, perspiration dripping down his furrowed brow.

Looks like I am the one missing something here. “What do I not know?”

All they do is grimace, which tells me fuck all.

Maddox nudges Gryff with his elbow. “You tell him.”

“You are such a fucking coward,” Gryff mutters with a roll of his eyes.

“I prefer to give good news instead of bad.”

“Will one of you tell me what the fuck you are talking about?” Or else I am going to stab them both with this blade and leave their bodies for the scavengers prowling this forest.

Gryffin blows out a breath. If he is hesitating, it must be very bad, indeed. “Kerris is getting married.”

Kerris. Kerris. Kerris.

He says more words, but all I can seem to focus on is the fact that they are speaking about her. The two share another look, one that makes my heart stall.

The rest of Gryff’s sentence hits me like a hurricane, knocking me back a step.

Kerris is getting married?

It feels like I am being held under water, my next breath nowhere to be found. What did I expect? That she would remain unattached?

I hope she finds happiness. I hope she⁠—

Fuck. No, I do not wish any of those things. I want to drop everything, race across the canyon, and beg for her forgiveness. Explain that I am ready to make the move.

But now it is too late.

She found someone else.

The dagger’s hilt bites against my calloused hands. “To whom?”

They trade a look, and my stomach sinks even lower.

This time, it is Maddox who stabs me with his words. “Prince Ronan Reve.”

No. No fucking way is Kerris marrying him. Kerris would never tie herself to that arrogant prick. “When is the wedding?”

“Tomorrow.”

No. No. No. “I need to go to her.” I stumble to my feet, the ground like quicksand, threatening to swallow me whole.

They both take a collective step back, their noses wrinkling, but it is Maddox who speaks. “You are covered in blood.”