They Hanged My Parents as Traitors, Now the Prince Needs My Heart novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Claiming

I asked him to walk me home.

The Row was still singing when we left the meadow, around fires that would burn until the sun came up.

Nobody followed.

The old Guard had been kind enough to find something to do on the other side of the valley.

The cottage with the green door stood dark at the end of the lane.

The widow had left the key on the step with a note under it, in a shaky hand.

Back in the morning. Bank the fire. Don't break the bed.

I read it twice and gave it to Cadoc.

He read it and said, "She's a woman of great insight," he said.

"She's seventy and she's been listening at the wall for a week," I said.

"I would like to meet her properly."

"You will. She wants you to fix her gutter."

He laughed, and it was the whole laugh now, easy and deep.

It went through my chest and warmed it.

I lit the lamp and set the cup on the kitchen table.

It sat there between us, dented and plain.

"It's after midnight," I said.

"Is it?"

"I'm twenty-five."

He went still.

"Midwinter," he said. "I forgot."

"I didn't. I've never forgotten. I just never had anyone I wanted to say it to."

I took his hand.

The left one, with the black on it, from the fingers to the elbow.

I turned it over and laid my wrist against his, silver line to silver line.

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