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I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling again, considering how the letters of Casamir’s true name fit together and which ones I might be missing, I found myself wondering what would happen when I learned his name, when I spoke it and managed to free myself. Did I have to leave? Did I have to return to my lonely cottage on the edge of the Enchanted Forest? If I stayed and Casamir did not know himself, would he still know me?
The thought hurt more than I liked to admit.
Of course, all this would be remedied if I loved him.
But what was love? True, I had loved my mother, my sister, my father. I had loved them and hurt them.
I did not want my love to hurt Casamir, not when he took away so much of my pain.
A knock sounded at my door, and I let out a breath, blinking rapidly to clear my eyes, which had blurred with tears.
I sat up and stared at the door, mistrusting who might be on the other side.
The knock sounded again, and I rolled onto my knees and reached for my ax, which had been returned to my bedside table, likely by Naeve. Its handle was no longer riddled with thorns but smooth—Casamir’s magic, if I had to guess.
“Come in,” I said.
The door opened, and Casamir entered.
I was startled to see him, given his cold departure, but as he closed the door, a slow smile spread across his face.
“Preparing for battle, creature?” he asked.
I held the ax to my chest.
“That depends,” I said. “Have you come to declare war?”
“I was thinking something a little less bloody.”
I raised a brow, and his features became a little more serious.
“Perhaps a picnic?”
I pressed my lips together, attempting not to smile at the thought of the Prince of Thorns on a pleasant picnic.
“Do you even like picnics?” I asked.
“I like anything with you,” he said.
I stared and swallowed.
“Well?” he prompted.
“Yes,” I said. “I’ll go on a picnic with you.”
He smiled, full and real, and as if he could not be any more beautiful, he suddenly was. He stole my breath.
“I will meet you in the courtyard,” he said.
I nodded, and when he left my room, I let out a long breath and collapsed against the bed.
What was happening to me that I desired his presence so much? This was more than wanting his body in mine.
I had sought him out.
I had wanted him.
And lying here alone had only made me wish for him more.
