After buckling her shoes, she walks over to me and places her hands on my shoulders.

“I’ve never said this before, but I’m sorry I didn’t stick up for you as much as I could’ve over the years,” she whispers. “I should’ve protected you from Father’s wrath more … I know that deep down you hate him and you’d be ecstatic if he died, but I won’t be.”

“Then why are you speaking as if he’s already dead?”

“He just never understood you.” She shakes her head. “You’re so damn difficult to love at times.”

“Is this conversation going somewhere, Izzie?”

“Although I’ll never be able to forgive you for turning down Prince Charming that day, I can understand why you did.”

“Can you really?”

“Um hm.” She presses a kiss against my forehead. “You feel unworthy of love because you know that no man will ever love a classless, unsophisticated woman like you.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “That’s exactly the reason.”

“I know. I’ve read about it.” She hugs me so tightly that I can barely breathe, and while she tells me how life as a spinster “won’t be so bad,” I insert her into my dragon-burning fantasy. I smile as the fire reduces her body to nothing but ashes as well.

“Well, that’s enough of that.” She finally pulls away from me. “Since I’m his favorite, I’ll go look for him alone with Madeline, okay?” she says. “If it takes me too long to return, you should come look for me.”

“I think we should reverse roles, Izzie. You’re not that good on horseback, and you don’t know your way around the woods.”

“I’m smart enough to figure it out.” She pauses. “Do you think there are spiders in the woods? If so, is there a way that I can avoid them?”

I stare at her blankly.

“I’ll just scream if I see any,” she says. “That’ll scare them away.”

I refuse to waste any sarcasm on her.

“I’ll prepare some water gourds for you,” I say, heading outside.

Filling them, I screw the tops on tight before walking to our second horse, Madeline—the one Father took from me and gave to Izzie—and secure them on the saddle.

“You’re well aware that my sister is an idiot, Madeline,” I whisper against her neck. “Take the path I always show you and send me word through the birds if she encounters trouble.”

Madeline nods as Izzie bursts through the door.

Without saying another word, I help her onto the saddle and adjust her bags. I even offer her a pair of gloves, so she won’t feel insects crawling over her hands.

“Goodbye, Belle.” She wipes a stream of tears away. “Wish me luck.”

“I’ll come look for you if you don’t return in two days,” I say.

“Make it four.” She jerks the reins. “Take care.”

Madeline gallops toward the woods, and when I can’t hear the hooves hitting the ground anymore, I head inside and light a fire in the hearth.