(LIAM'S POV)
"The next morning, I woke up feeling like the luckiest woman alive. The sun was streaming through the windows of the cottage. Mason was sleeping peacefully in his cradle. You were playing with Haelorian on the floor. And Vaelion—"
She smiled.
"Vaelion had made breakfast appear out of nowhere. The food spread was incredible. Dishes I had only dreamed of eating. Fruits from distant realms. Breads that smelled like heaven. Meats cooked to perfection. He made me dine like a queen, Liam. Like I was the most important person in the universe."
"What happened?" I asked, dreading the answer.
Her smile faded.
"After breakfast, Vaelion sat me down at the table. He took my hands in his. And he told me that I couldn't keep living in that forest. That the elves were going to find me very soon. That the bounty on my head was growing larger every day. That it was only a matter of time before someone traced the strange happenings back to the cottage."
She looked at me.
