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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

His head shakes slowly. “Not yet.”

Why has no one chosen him? He is handsome, strong, and funny. Perhaps he, like my brother, has been fending off proposals for years and hasn’t wanted to settle down. What is he waiting for? Or does he simply have no interest in marriage?

“Do you…belong to someone?” he asks.

“I’ve been seeing a few men, but I’m not sure they’re going to work out.”

“Why not?”

Where do I even begin? “One is a liar and the other doesn’t seem very interested.”

“They are fools.”

Nothing like coming right out and saying it. “I think you might be right.” At least someone else agrees.

“I am. Any male would be lucky to have your attention.”

Heat climbs my throat, and I know I’m staring but how can I not? Does he really think that or is he just trying to make me feel less miserable?

Everett stands suddenly. “I must go.”

I scramble to my feet, still searching for my voice. He’s not even gone yet and already I feel lonely. “Will you come back tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow is my shift to guard the bridge.”

Disappointment falls over me like a cool spring rain.

Until I realize that there is nothing to keep me from going to him. “Perhaps I will come to you then.”

“You should not be wandering alone at night.”

“I won’t be alone, Everett. I’ll be with you.”

22

“The grandest gestures often go unnoticed.”

Celeste Hanson Dawn, An Observation

All day I’ve been wound tighter than a spring, counting down the hours to nightfall. If Nia hadn’t been following me like a shadow since the moment we woke, I might’ve tried to sneak out and go to the well.

Instead, I’ve been forced to wait until the house is asleep to see Everett.

Any male would be lucky to have your attention.

Those words play on repeat in my mind.

We’re only friends but hearing him say things like that makes me wonder if perhaps we could be…more.

Not that it matters since I cannot possibly marry an Unseelie fae.

That doesn’t stop my mind from imagining the two of us together. Especially since I know I make Everett…stir.

My body ignites and no amount of fanning can cool me down.

Tomorrow, I need to get back out into the city and find a mate who doesn’t disappoint me at every turn. But tonight…

Tonight, I find Everett waiting on my side of the bridge, wearing the same solemn expression that seems to live on his handsome face.

It’s a good thing I like him even when he scowls. “Are all the planks there tonight?” I ask, only half teasing.

“They will always be there.”

For some reason, the slight edge to his tone makes my stomach flutter. “Afraid I’ll fall, Everett?”