What if her lips twitched strangely and she looked like she was in pain? What if she laughed too loudly at something that wasn’t even a joke? What if he had no sense of humor at all? What if??—?
She groaned and flopped onto her bed, burying her face in her favorite pillow.
This was impossible.
She was the daughter of a good family, and yet a single sentence felt like a battlefield. Still, she rose again and smoothed her gown. She turned back to the mirror.
Because she had to get it right. Or at least, not get it wrong.
“Welcome to our home. I am honored to finally meet you.”
Oh. That was better,she thought. That would sound very noble of her.
“My name is Lyssena, and??—”
A knock at the door made Lyssena gasp. She turned toward it, hands flying to her chest.
Koren opened it slowly, his grin barely contained. He loved teasing his younger sister, and seeing her reaction was indeed very funny.
“Come, Lyss. Everything’s ready, and your knight in shining armor is at the village gates.”
She swallowed hard and rose to her feet, smoothing the front of her gown with trembling hands. Koren offered his arm with a small, dramatic bow, clearly trying to make her smile. She took it, yet her fingers were not quite as steady as his.
They walked together down the narrow hall, the wooden floors creaking beneath them. The air was warm with the scent of roasted meat and honey-glazed bread. As they turned the corner, the dining room came into view, and Lyssena’s breath caught. She knew tonight was a great celebration, but she definitely did not expect her parents to spend so much coin they didn’t have.
The long table had never been so finely dressed. Fresh bread steamed on carved platters. Bowls of berries and thick cream glistened beside roasted rabbits and spiced deer meat. A wreath of herbs hung from the beam overhead.
“There’s our girl,” Father said, his voice filled with pride.
Mother turned, already reaching out to adjust Lyssena’s shoulders, though they needed no smoothing. “You look lovely.”
Lyssena nodded. Words would not come. Her chest felt too tight.
Koren gave her arm a gentle squeeze before letting go, walking toward the table to join the others.
She inhaled slowly, trying to calm her heartbeat.
Then she heard hooves.
At first, just as a whisper, like wind stirring dry leaves. But the sound grew louder, deeper, and more solid. Her heart pounded so fiercely she was sure someone would hear it.
Outside, the sun had nearly vanished. The sky was painted in tones of burnt peach and bruised lilac, the last breath before night took hold. Shadows stretched long across the walls.
Lyssena edged toward the window, just close enough to peek past the curtain.
She saw the tail of a great, dark horse swishing in the dusky air. Just a flicker of movement. Just the edge of a presence. But it was real.
Kaan had arrived.
“Keep your head down, sweet one,” her mother whispered as Lyssena rushed back to stand beside her. A hand settled gently on her back. “Let him come to you.”
Then the front door creaked open.
There was no knock. Just the slow, groaning protest of the hinges, like someone entering a place they believed already belonged to them.
Lyssena froze.
Her pulse stumbled, her hands curled into the fabric of her gown. Her breath caught, and she refused to move.
