Liam looked sulky. “I refuse to spend my evenings writing bad poetry.”

The Crone sighed. “That’s too bad. It would give her something to laugh over when she’s my age.”

They sat side by side for a long time after the Crone walked out of the room.

“Truce?” Liam finally said. “I won’t nag you about Falco, and you won’t nag me about Selena.”

“Truce.” Breanna smiled. “Besides, there are plenty of other things I can nag you about. Rhyann made up a list for me.”

Chapter 54

new moon

Liam hovered in the doorway, watching Selena pack her saddlebags. “You don’t have to go.”

“This is your mother’s room, and she’s coming back to live here with you and Brooke.”

“There are plenty of other rooms. You don’t have to go.”

“Yes, I do.”

It wasn’t fair. From the moment she’d arrived at Willowsbrook, they’d been caught up in the fight to survive. Now, when they could finally spend a little time getting to know each other better, she was leaving. “Why?”

He found the color suddenly flooding her cheeks intriguing.

“Because my father would disapprove,” she said, stuffing garments into the saddlebags with more speed than care.

So her father had gentry sensibilities when it came to his daughter. That he understood.

“Where are you going?”

“Not far. Across the brook, actually.” The color in her cheeks deepened. “Breanna said they have plenty of room, and since her handfast to Falco was witnessed by the Bard, the Muse, and her family’s elder, it would be proper to stay with them. And—And she mentioned that it wouldn’t be that far for a…friend…to ride to come visit.”

To hide his own delight, he muttered, “She’s been spending too much time with Rhyann.”

“Oh, Rhyann’s going to live there, too.” Selena looked up, her eyes filled with amusement.

“Mother’s tits.”

She laughed. “Rhyann does tend to produce that reaction.” Picking up her saddlebags, she walked to the door, stopping when he didn’t move aside. “Thank you for your hospitality, Baron Liam.”

“It was my pleasure, Lady Selena.” He took the saddlebags from her and smiled. “I’ll see you to your horse. It’s the least a friend can do.”

Chapter 55

waning moon

After glancing at Lyrra, who nodded, Aiden reined in.

“Ashk?”

She turned the dark horse and walked it back to them.

He understood her keeping the dark horse. She’d lost her horse, he’d lost his rider, and since there were two other dark horses at Bretonwood, he’d also be among his own kind.

But he didn’t understand about the puppy.