[Bonus chapter] Making Stories

Ash glanced at me uneasily from the side, his throat bobbing as if he was worried my question was a trap. But I just waited, praying he wouldn't question why I wanted to hear our love story when I had, apparently, been a fully conscious participant in it.

"Well," he said, shifting his weight, but his grip on my hand tightened. He looked down at where he held my hand in both of his and he spoke to that point, where we were joined. "As you know I was assigned to your family," he said. "You must know, Zara, that I never intended to find love there. My honor… I take my responsibilities very seriously."

"I know." I mean, I hoped. I hadn't seen any reason to believe otherwise.