Chapter 6 ROSEMARY

The horses' hooves against the forest floor beat out a rhythm like a drummer going to battle as Nicholas and his sons closed in on the gentle King’s lands. The old warlock’s pointy finger reached out into the air before him as he called out to the riders that followed. “Just ahead through the clearing.”

Daniel’s heart slapped against his chest, knowing he’d finally lay his eyes on the woman he’d been dreaming of all this time. He memorized every soft curve of her face, and he’d fallen more and more down into the abyss caused by her absence in the world.

He came to think of them all like family, the only one he’d ever wanted to be part of, and it would never be complete until she was safely in their fold.

He clutched the reins of his horse as his hands buzzed, and his heart fluttered the closer he came to the castle. He could feel Rosemary everywhere; all his body called out to her.