They’d been checking traps along the treeline, he and Aries, when Hadria stepped out of the woods like she owned the place.
Neither of them had seen her coming. She’d slipped past her nurse, past her guards, and tracked them for who knew how long. That alone made an impression. But it also made them wary.
Her cloak was half-off her shoulder, leaves in her hair, eyes gleaming with interest. “Would you teach me how to do that?” she asked, nodding at the trap in Collin’s hand, the rabbit dangling limp from it.
Aries had raised a brow. “What, set a trap?” he said, voice thick with sarcasm. “Did your father finally run out of food? Or are you just curious what a rabbit looks like before it’s plated on gold?”
Collin had felt the same suspicion. Why wouldshewant to hunt? What was she really after?
But she didn’t flinch.
“I’m not him,” she’d said quietly, crossing her arms, gaze hard as she turned away.
For a second, no one spoke. Then Collin saw something in the way her shoulders drew in—not defiance, exactly. Loneliness. Something sharp and vulnerable under the pride. He hadn’t expected to feel sorry for her. But he did.
Aries muttered protests, but Collin offered to teach her. Gave her a meeting place. He figured she wouldn’t show.
She did.
Armed with skinning knives and a stubborn set to her jaw.
Over the next few weeks, they taught her how to set snares, how to clean game, how to wield a short blade. Their doubts faded. She was bossy, yes—liked to give advice no one asked for—but she was also clever, fearless, and startlingly kind.
Even in the forest, Hadria carried herself with a grace that didn’t belong to the wild. But she wasn’t fragile. She moved fast, hit hard. More than once, she disarmed Aries and pinned him to a tree with his own sword. Collin was pretty surethatwas when Aries fell in love. And once he did, he never looked back.
Then one morning, the town bell rang at dawn.
Collin remembered running to the square, breathless.
There, standing on the raised platform in a silvery green gown, was Hadria.
She was being married—to Eric, the chief steward’s polished, practiced son. The match was strategic. Prestigious. Entirely unwanted.
Collin remembered the way she slipped the family ring from her finger, the flick of her wrist as she hurled it at her father’s feet.
The silence afterward felt like the whole town had stopped breathing.
Only then did Collin understand why she had come to them months before—why she’d asked to learn traps and blades and fieldcraft. She hadn’t been rebelling.
She’d been preparing to escape.
Montigo disowned her right there, in front of everyone. Declared her dead to his house. Promised punishment for anyone who dared help her.
And still—Collin had never seen anyone stand taller.
Collin scuffed the toe of his boot on the grass. He glanced at Dragonfly, but her eyes darted away too quickly. It was difficult to ignore their friends' blatant display of public affection. To ease his embarrassment, he said loudly, “We were able to meet our quota of fish. Thanks for giving us the hint today.”
Dragonfly gave Collin a curt nod before looking away. She stood with her arms crossed in front of her as if shielding herself from a chilling breeze. She cleared her throat loudly, which finally caused Aries and Hadria to break apart.
Aries gazed at Dragonfly. At least he had the sense to look embarrassed. Draping an arm around Hadria's shoulders, he said, "Oh, it’s good to see you again!”
Then, he turned his attention on Collin, eyes gleaming with theatrical innocence. “Didn’t you say you were starving? I’m sure Dragonfly is too. Why not escort her to the grill—just two hungry singles bonding over questionable meat. Meanwhile, Hadria and I need to locate Arion.”
Before Collin could kick his friend for acting so absurd, Aries and Hadria were practically running away from the scene. Aries had been so ridiculously obvious. Why wasn’t Dragonfly laughing in derision?
Collin rubbed the back of his neck. For heaven’s sake, what was the matter with him these days? When had talking to herbecome so difficult? When had just looking at her made his mind spin into salacious planes? When had the sight of her collarbone, her lips, and even her wrists sent his blood thrumming? He forced himself to meet her eyes, but he couldn’t think of anything to say. Perhaps he ought to apologize for...
"What happened to your hand?"
