Chapter 12

Tristan walked with a heavy heart at what he had to be a witness to. He watched a man burn alive at his ruler’s orders. It was a cruel punishment and one he would not have ordered if he were ruler. Yes, the man was to die for his crimes against the council and the abduction of a female member of the 1st Ruling House, but never had a man been sentenced to die that way. The man wasn’t even allowed a trial which according to their law he was entitled to. There was no doubt the man was guilty, but he was allowed to state his reasoning for his actions. Draken took that option away from the man.

Draken had a temper and he let it get the best of him today. He was glad he didn’t have to see the man’s body actually burn. He was left tied to the post inside the tent and the canvas lit ablaze, but the idea of what was going on in that tent made his stomach turn at the sheer cruelty his cousin was capable of. It never should have happened to that man. None of this should have happened, he thought. In his mind, justice wasn’t served. It was pure revenge, nothing more.

He sighed and stood still for a moment to look at the burned woods. The fire had come dangerously close to Samson’s house and if Pagan hadn’t acted quickly, she and all the female members of his family could have possibly burned in the fire. It took several hours to get the blaze under control and as the last embers fizzled out, the smoke permeated the air, filling the atmosphere with a heavy cloud that seeped into the lungs of all who were nearby. There were definitely going to be health issues for those here and in the main village, there was too much smoke for there not to be. Already the village doctor was treating the men who fought the blaze for smoke inhalation and fortunately no one had been severely burned. He was grateful for that.

Samson’s house was too close to the damage and was deemed unfit to live in until most of the smoke cleared. He had given orders for Pagan to stay in his sister’s room at his house and Samson and Elizabeth were to take the guest quarters. Their servants and maids also moved in and were divided between his home, and Draken’s house to make sure there would be a bed for all to sleep. It was the least they could do for the people. They had served the ruling houses for generations and were an important part of the running of the manors of the ruling families.

Now that things had quieted down and the rebels that were captured were imprisoned, he needed to decide how he was going to handle Pagan’s defiance. She never should have climbed out the window, granted she did save Cassandra’s life, but she went against Brailey’s orders to stay put and now she needed to be reprimanded for doing so.

He had to, it was expected of him, and if he was to be ruler someday, he had to show no mercy in order to hold the respect of his people. She was his betrothed and his responsibility to discipline by law, and he was glad of that fact. If Draken was still her guardian, he doubted he would be lenient toward her in any way. Tristan needed to find a way to discipline her to please the law and not cause her to distance herself from him.

The stables maybe? She liked being around the horses and she wasn’t one to shy away from hard labor. She had expressed an interest in learning to ride and caring for a horse was a part of the experience. Yes, he would order her to care for his horse. It would give him a chance to spend time with her and give her a little solitude away from prying eyes. Of course, a chaperone would need to be nearby, but he didn’t think she would mind Betha being around. The two of them had become close and he knew Pagan was glad to have a friend to talk to.

Tristan sputtered out a cough. He needed to get away from the smoke. He covered his nose with the sleeve of his tunic and headed home to clean up and face Pagan.

***

Pagan paced the expanse of Betha’s room. She knew he would be calling for her soon and she wasn’t looking forward to it. Delia kept reminding her how she defied Brailey and because of it she was to be disciplined, and it was Tristan’s duty to do so since he had the contract on her. Of course, Delia kept throwing hints that her defiance gave him good reason to end his contract on her, if he chose to, and she believed he would. Wishful thinking on her part.

Well, that wasn’t going to happen. Tristan had no choice but to marry her, no matter what she did. Zeus ordered him to do so, and she doubted the deity was going to change His mind any time soon.

Much to Delia’s dismay, Tristan wasn’t going to be a free man. Although Delia didn’t know that. She was still prancing around, primping to make herself presentable for the moment she thought he was going to tell her he renounced his contract on Pagan and take one out on her. Why was the woman still there? Her home was deemed livable, and the rebel leader and his men were no longer a threat. She needed to leave.

“Delia, when are you going home?” Pagan asked.

“Why, Pagan, I can’t, not until my father returns and he is still south with the troops Draken left there.”

Great, she thought. It may be weeks before the general was allowed to return and until then Delia had to stay where she was, right smack in the middle of Pagan’s life. There had to be a way to get rid of her. She didn’t mind the little sisters, they were cute and sweet, but their big sister was a huge pain in the ass, more specifically, her ass.

Pagan began pacing again. Time wasn’t on her side. She wanted to get this over with. The door swung open, and Adam entered, holding Bella.

“Bella!” Pagan said happily. “My dear little Bella, I had forgotten all about you. Please forgive me.” Pagan took her cat from Adam’s arms and stroked her soft white fur. Bella purred and nuzzled her head into Pagan’s arm. Pagan turned and walked over to Betha’s bed and Bella hissed and bared her teeth as she walked passed Delia.

“A cat, ugh, I hate cats,” Delia scoffed.

Apparently, cats didn’t have a fondness for Delia either, Pagan thought. She chuckled inwardly and didn’t dignify Delia with a reply. She crawled in the center of the bed and continued to cuddle her loving pet.

“Adam, has Tristan returned yet?” Delia asked.

“Yes, he has,” Adam answered.

Pagan looked up at Adam and he winked at her.

“And he is most eager to see his betrothed. He requested she wear this.” He called out in the hall and a maid walked in holding a silk lavender gown.

“Oh, how lovely. How ever did he know it would fit?” Delia said as she took the dress from the maid. The maid opened her mouth in shock and looked to Adam then to Pagan.

“Delia, the dress is for Pagan, not you. He found it in a shop in a small village and he bought it for her because it reminded him of her eyes,” Adam said.

Adam took the dress from Delia, as she held it up to her body. “It is one of several he had purchased. The others are in his room in the wardrobe Charles crafted for her as requested by Tristan. My family decided to gift it to Pagan as a wedding gift and Charles refused to take Tristan’s money for it.” He handed the dress to Pagan. “I do believe Tristan was right. That color does match your eyes beautifully.”

Pagan caressed the soft material of the gown and ignored Delia’s protest of what she thought was an inappropriate gift for Tristan to give since she was so defiant.

“Adam, Tell Tristan I’ll be right there,” Pagan said softly.

“Yes, my lady, I will let him know right away.”

Adam bowed to her, and he left the room, closing the door behind him. The maid stood there with her hands folded in front of her and she stared at Pagan.

“Why are you still here?” Delia asked annoyed.

“I am to be Lady Pagan’s personal handmaiden, my lady. Lord Tristan hired me just a few moments ago to serve his betrothed.”

“Her what? Why, I never!” Delia threw her hands up in the air. “Why he would do such a thing is beyond me, after all, he is bound to renounce his betrothal contract to you for your unladylike behavior. Perhaps these are farewell gifts, so you won’t get your feelings hurt when he dumps you?”

“Give it up, Delia. Tristan loves me and he has no intentions of leaving me for you.”

Pagan untied his belt from her waist and walked to Betha’s privy to get ready to go see Tristan.

***

Tristan eased his body into the tub and sighed, as the warm water touched his skin. He lowered his head under the water and came up with his hair clinging to his back. His personal servant, Stella, picked up the soap and began scrubbing his lower back. He was running later than he had hoped. His talk with Draken took longer than he had anticipated, and he wanted to be clean and free from the smell of smoke before Pagan came to him.

He had to take the time to speak with his cousin about the living arrangements. He wanted Delia out of his house, and he hoped Draken would honor his request to have her moved. He did, and to his surprise, Draken offered to move Delia and her sisters to his home. By placing them under his guardianship, it didn’t dishonor the general in any way. In fact, it made it look like Draken held his daughters in high esteem. It was an ideal solution to getting Delia out of his personal life.

Tristan also had to reassure Draken that he would discipline Pagan for her defiance, at least for the public to see. Draken agreed the stables would be a good place for Pagan. The women in their society would see that as a dirty chore to do. Most of them loved to ride but refused to care for the horses. That was a man’s duty and Aradian women refused to take part in the practice.

He lathered the shampoo in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. He ducked under the water and rose up again. He leaned back against the tub and Stella began washing his chest and stomach. Her hand dipped lower to clean around his groin and he heard a loud shrill coming from the direction of the door.

“What the hell!” Pagan screamed as she stormed into his room.

Stella stood with her hands dripping with soap and water. She looked to him and then to Pagan. Tristan took the soap out of her hands.

“It’s all right, Stella. You can go now,” Tristan told his personal servant.

Stella wiped her hands dry on her long skirt and walked passed Pagan, closing the door behind her.

“What are you doing here, Pagan? You know you are not allowed to be alone with me, especially with me in my current state of undress,” he said.

He rose out of the water and pointed to the towel on the chair. “Hand me that, will you?”

“How dare you let her touch your naked body like that? What about your vow of abstinence, not to mention your promise to me?”

“It was only a bath, Pagan. No sexual interaction, just a bath. I am allowed to bathe, you know.” He stepped out of the tub. “Are you going to hand me that towel, or not?”

Pagan stormed over to the chair, picked up the towel and threw it at him and he began to dry off.

“What are you doing here?” He asked again.

“I thought you wanted to see me, and you should bathe yourself! A grown man doesn’t need to be bathed like a baby!”

“There is nothing wrong with Stella bathing me. It’s her job, nothing more. You really need to get your jealousy under control.” He walked over to his dresser and grabbed a clean pair of breeches.

“Oh, and I suppose it will still be her job after you get married!” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him with her endearing lavender eyes.

“No, that will be your job, since I am to marry you.” He laced up his breeches. “You look lovely in that gown, by the way.”

“Stop trying to butter me up. And I have no intention of bathing you! Ever!” Pagan whirled around and stomped toward the door.

“Hey, where are you going? Get back here, Pagan. We need to talk.”

“Without a chaperone? I wouldn’t want to stay and cause you any due harm to your reputation, after all, you are no longer allowed to be naked around me, but you have a right to let the hired help grope you in the bath!” She pulled the lever on the door and flung it open so hard it hit the wall.

“Pagan, that was uncalled for! Come back here, right now!”

“NO!” She shouted over her shoulder.

Tristan pulled his tunic over his head and weaved his arms through the sleeves, as he walked down the hall after her. She was walking rather quickly and had her head held high. He managed to catch up with her and reached for her arm to stop her. She halted her steps and looked up at him with hurt in her eyes. She truly was upset over his bath.

“Let go, Tristan,” she said.

“No, not until we talk about this.”

“There is nothing to say.”

Delia and Betha walked out into the hall and stood in the doorway of Betha’s room. He needed to speak with her privately, but with Delia around, he had to do it properly.

“Betha, come with us.” He pulled Pagan behind him, as he walked back to his room. Betha scampered to catch up with them and he heard Delia laughing until he closed his door. Tristan stood blocking her exit with his arms crossed over his chest and he took in a deep breath before he spoke again.

“Pagan, I understand things are done differently on Earth, and judging by your little fit you just threw, the men over there don’t allow their personal servants to bathe them. But you are here now, and things are done a certain way.”

“Don’t tell me, there is a rule stating that a man has to have a maid bathe him.”

“No, there isn’t. It is a little old fashion and I’m an old fashion kind of guy. To me it is just a bath, nothing more.”

“Humph,” Pagan said as she turned her back to him.

“Look, forget about my bath for a moment. There is something else we need to discuss, and I know you aren’t going to like what I have to say, but I’m going to say it anyway.”

“So what else is new?” She snapped her response.

He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders to turn her to face him. She looked down at her feet, trying to avoid making eye contact with him.

“What you did today was brave, and I am proud of you for the way you defended Cassandra, but you did go against Brailey’s orders and because there are witnesses to it, mainly Delia, I have to discipline you for your actions.”

“What are you going to do, spank me?” She asked sarcastically.

“The thought had crossed my mind, though more than likely it would lead to a more intimate situation that we can’t afford to be in just yet.”

“What, you get a thrill out of spanking women?” She asked with a hint of shock in her voice.

Betha laughed. “Sorry, please continue.”

“Delia will be out of the house by the end of the day, I’ve taken care of that, but you need to do something to show you regret your decision to climb out the window.”

“What do you suggest?” Pagan asked him.

“I want you to care for my horse for a while.”

“Your horse, that’s no punishment. He’s a beautiful animal, I’d enjoy caring for him.”

“I know. That’s why I decided on it. It will allow us to be together without the prying eyes of others and of course Betha would have to be there, but it will be just the three of us.”

“For how long?” She asked, twisting the toe of her shoe in the rug.

“Two weeks.”

“Done. Now may I go?”

“Not yet.” He pulled her into him and kissed her lips passionately.

“Uh oh,” Betha said as she covered her eyes with her hand. “I don’t see a thing.”

Pagan’s knees buckled at the intensity of his kiss, and she didn’t want him to stop. She was still mad at him for letting Stella touch him, and he really didn’t see anything wrong with it. Her main issue was that she wanted to be the one to touch him that way and the sight of another woman handling his family jewels was more than she ever wanted to see.

It had caught her by surprise when she walked in and the way he was leaning back in the tub, it was as though he was enjoying it. Her green jealous monster reared its ugly head, and she lost control of her mouth. Now, he was kissing that same mouth and she begged silently for him to do more.

He lifted his head slightly to hover over her lips.

“You can uncover your eyes, Betha, we are going to behave ourselves now,” he said to his sister.

He took a step back and she lost her balance for moment, as he released her. She regained her composure and watched him stroll over to his chair and sit to pull on his boots. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a belt and buckled it around his waist. He held out a hand to her.

“Shall we go tell Delia about her new living arrangements?”

“Her what?” She asked.

“She and her sisters are now the wards of Draken and are to be living with him till her father returns.” He smiled.

“Oh my, Delia is going to love this. I can’t wait to see the expression on her face. Come on, what are you waiting for. Let’s get her misery started right away,” Betha said and ran to the door. “Oh, Delia, we have news for you,” she said as she skipped with glee toward her room.

***

The time Pagan spent in the stables had been pleasant. Tristan was right; it had been just the three of them. On occasion a stable hand was near, but they usually did their job and left. Every so often she caught a glimpse of a smile, as they watched Tristan try to teach her how to ride. She was starting to feel accepted by the people who worked for him and his family, and it warmed her heart. Her two weeks had gone by too fast, and she continued caring for Tristan’s horse till the end of the month. She found a sense of ease and calmness caring for his horse and she actually enjoyed doing it.

Pagan glanced over at Betha and watched, as she cooed her mare while she brushed her mane. Betha wasn’t afraid of doing a man’s work when it came to the care of her precious horse and today was no different. She became intrigued as Pagan took on her stable duties and decided to try tending her horse and she found she liked it.

Charles had arrived a few days ago with Delia’s father and Betha was over the moon that he came by every day since his return to see how things were progressing with Betha and her horse. He had a sense of pride as he watched her care for her mare, and today he decided to help her in her task. It was kind of nice watching the two of them. She knew Betha had a crush on Charles, and apparently he had a fondness for Betha.

The morning ride had been refreshing and the sun was warming the sky. It was beautiful here, and the woods surrounding the ruling houses were alive with the sights and sounds of nature. Flowers were in bloom and the fragrant aroma filled her senses, at least around the stables and Tristan’s home. The woods around her home were burnt and there was still a hint of smoke in the area, but it was deemed safe, and she and her grandparents moved back in.

She really loved sleeping in her mother’s room. She wanted to be near her mother’s things to try to get a sense of who her mother was. It was one of the advantages of being an empath. Her grandmother taught her how to control her emotions and the emotions of others that swarmed around her like bees.

This was a skill she greatly needed around Tristan. She loved him and he always let his love for her flow freely to her, but at times it was overwhelming, and she needed a way to take a step back and breathe. She had never thought she would ever be in love, especially with a man like Tristan. His way of thinking was complicated at times, and she had to keep reminding herself that he was an Aradian and they held a different view of women than the men of Earth. They still argued from time to time. He told her she talked too much, and she told him to butt out of her mind. He constantly spoke to her mind, and she knew he was reading her thoughts. It annoyed her and that was the main reason she asked her grandmother to teach her how to keep someone from picking her brain. Once she mastered the skill, she put up her wall to block him out whenever she felt she needed privacy. To her surprise. He didn’t fight her on it.

It was hard for her to hide her feelings from him. Her love for him filled every ounce of her being and she had to keep reminding herself that it was worth it, to give a little and let him gloat.

Tristan rounded the corner and inspected her work. He ran his hand across the stallion’s neck and patted the animal in an affectionate way.

“Well, I think you got it, Pagan. He is finely groomed.”

“Was there any doubt?”

“Well…”

Pagan threw the brush at him, and he caught it in the air. He gave her that wicked smile she came to love, and she turned around to keep him from seeing her smile. He walked over to where she was standing and she pressed her lips into a thin line, trying to keep a serious look on her face. He leaned an arm across his horse and settled into a relaxed stance. He crooked a finger at her and motioned for her to come to him.

“Why should I?” She asked.

“Because I want you to, and more importantly, I know you want to.”

“Sure of yourself, are you now?”

“Damn right, now come here, or I’ll come to you.”

“Well, in that case, my lord, you come to me.”

She took off running when he moved toward her. She giggled, as he chased her around the stables. She whirled around Betha and used her as shield between them.

“Betha, you are my chaperone, do something!”

“Like what? Seems to me you are doing fine on your own!”

“Now, Betha, she’s your friend and your responsibility. The least you can do is help her out. If I were chasing you, I’m sure Pagan would lend you a hand,” Charles said.

“Hey, Charles, whose side are you on?” Tristan said as he darted to his left and reached for Pagan.

She managed to escape his grasp and took off running toward the pasture and he blocked the stable doors. She inched back, as he inched forward.

“Well, if you were to chase me, you’d never catch me, after all, I am quick on my feet,” Betha said.

“Is that a challenge, Betha?” Charles asked as he lunged toward her.

Betha dropped her brush and ran giggling in the other direction.

The two women passed each other from time to time and the men found themselves running around in a maze as the women avoided them.

“Practicing for the chase tomorrow?” Draken asked.

All four of them stopped dead in their tracks at the sound of his voice. He walked in and eyed each one of them, as if conducting a military inspection.

“We were just grooming the horses,” Pagan said.

Draken leaned over and picked up a brush and tossed it to her.

“Then, I think you will be needing this.” He walked over to his own horse and scratched its nose. “I came out here to tell you that my guardianship of Delia and her sisters has officially ended. Her father came to the house to collect them, and they are now on their way home.”

Well, that put a damper on the mood and Pagan slumped her shoulders. It had been nice while it lasted. Draken had kept Delia in his house, and she wasn’t allowed to venture beyond his gardens. She had only caught glimpses of her from time to time, but never in close contact. Now that she was back under her father’s roof, Pagan was sure she would be free to roam the village and the grounds of the ruling houses like she had done before.

“You will be at the dinner tonight, Draken? It is in honor of Betha and Pagan,” Tristan said.

“Yes, Cassandra and I will be there.” He walked to stand in front of Pagan. “Thank you for what you did for Cassandra. I’ll never forget it.”

He walked out of the stables without giving her a chance to respond. She stood there, staring at his back, as he disappeared down the path to his home. She was stunned at his words. She didn’t expect him to be so kind to her and she definitely didn’t expect him to thank her. It had been almost a month since the incident, and she didn’t think her actions warranted a thank you. She did what she felt she needed to do. Cassandra was family and she wanted to protect her.

Family. She actually thought of Draken’s wife as family. Did that mean she also considered Draken to be family, too? By law he was her father, and she hadn’t thought of him as a father since she was a little girl. Now that she thought about it, Draken was the only father she had ever known. She visited her parents’ grave as often as she could, but she never knew them. Draken and Esmeralda instilled her values she cherished, more Esmeralda than Draken, but he let Ezzie raise her as she saw fit. Most likely because at the time he thought he was going to live the rest of his life on Earth and she and Esmeralda were his family there. He only came back to Aradia because the rebels had murdered Tristan’s grandfather and father, and Draken was the only male of the 1st Ruling House alive to rule. She took his actions as abandonment, but in reality, Zeus refused to let him bring her back and he came here to defend his family honor and helped Patrice raise her three children. Draken wasn’t a bad man, she realized. He was a man who made choices based on what he believed was best for others.

“Pagan,” Tristan called to her. “We should probably get you home so you can get ready for the dinner. Your rite of passage is tomorrow, and it is customary for the family to honor you with a private dinner.”

Her rite of passage. The day had arrived for her to let a stranger take her virginity. She had pushed the thought out of her mind for the past few weeks and now she had to face the reality of what she was expected to do. Apollo had told her to do it and not fight it. She needed to obey her deity and she had told Tristan she would go through with it. But could she actually lie there and spread her legs for a masked stranger?

Tristan took her hand and caressed her knuckles. I know you are nervous about what is going to happen tomorrow. I promised you I’ll be there for you and I will.

Oh, Tristan, how can I ever face you again, knowing a man you know has been inside me?

You will face me and know that no matter what happens tomorrow in that temple, I am the man, who loves you.

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her soft skin. She looked at his hand, as he held hers, and she saw his ring that had her name engraved on it. It gave her comfort to see him wearing his wedding ring to show his world his devotion to her. She felt she didn’t deserve him. He was too good of a man for a girl like her. He was her knight in shining armor and somehow, she knew he would make everything all right tomorrow.

***

Pagan looked around the dinner table. Draken and Cassandra sat to one side of her, and next to Cassandra were Lady Patrice, Betha, Brailey, her grandparents, and Tristan by her side. She lowered her head for a moment, and Tristan caressed her hand that he had held in his since the moment they had sat down. This was her family now, and she came to love them all. Her realization toward Draken was new to her and she didn’t know how to tell him that she no longer blamed him for how she had to live her life. She knew she needed to. She just wasn’t sure how to say the words to him.

So much had changed in the past two and a half months and the life of living in fear and on the run seemed more like a nightmare than a reality, but the truth was it was a reality and that reality brought her here to be among these people, who accepted her and let her into their hearts.

The kitchen maid came to stand next to her and placed a plate full of fruit and what she thought looked like cheesecake on the table. Pagan politely thanked the woman, and the maid nodded before she placed a plate in front of Tristan.

After they all had their desserts placed before them, Draken led the group in a dedication for she and Betha. It was a sweet poem he recited and one she figured was being read at the homes of all the initiates for tomorrow’s rite of passage. Once he was finished, he sliced a small piece of his cake and placed a spoonful in Cassandra’s mouth.

She looked around the table and she noticed her grandfather did the same for her grandmother. She glanced over at Tristan, and he had his spoon poised for her to sample the cheesecake he had scooped for her.

“It is customary for a man to honor his wife for what she had to give up before he was allowed to be with her. The cheesecake is our way of saying we will always care for your needs,” Tristan said.

“But we aren’t married,” she said.

“You are my betrothed. You belong to me, it is my duty to you to honor you and, Pagan, I want to honor you.”

Pagan opened her mouth, and he slipped the delicious creamy dessert into her mouth. He then placed his spoon in his mouth and licked any remnants of the cake off his spoon. She noticed Lady Patrice lowered her head as the ritual was done.

Her husband was gone and had been for fifteen years. It saddened her heart to see the sadness in Patrice’s eyes. It was evident that she still missed her husband. Betha told her she never remarried, even though several gentlemen asked for contracts on her. Draken knew she still loved his cousin and he refused to sign any contracts because he saw her pain and he wanted her to heal from her loss first. After a while, the offers stopped, and she remained a widow.

Tristan continued to feed Pagan her cheesecake and she let him. He seemed to be enjoying doing it and she didn’t mind the extra attention he was giving her. All of this was because she was about to be a member of their society as a woman of legal age to marry. It was uncommon for a man to take a contract on a woman before her rite of passage, and as far as she knew, she was the first.

It was a complicated situation and Tristan had to treat her as a virgin and untouchable, but yet he still had the right to sleep in her bed naked. He was an honorable man and would do nothing to discredit her. His vow of abstinence was proof of that, but she did miss having him in her bed for the past month and she wondered since after tomorrow she would be allowed by law to be sexually active, would he return to her bed and make love to her like the law allowed him to do?

Pagan felt a slight pang of desire in her belly. He had made love to her in her dream and tomorrow he would be allowed to do it in reality. She squeezed his hand, and he gave her a concerned look.

Are you all right, princess?

Yes, I’m nervous, that’s all.

Everything will be fine, I promise.

How? How can you make such a promise?

Pagan, please, trust me. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I will take care of you. I always will.

“I do believe it is time for us to retire,” her grandfather said.

All rose from their seats and her grandfather came to her side. He placed her hand in the crook of his arm and led her to the entrance to the living room. Pagan looked over her shoulder at Tristan. She didn’t want to leave him. This was the last time she was going to see him until after her rite of passage. Another man was about to place his manhood in her body and she no longer a virgin. By the heavens, she wanted that man to be Tristan.

It will be fine, princess. Have faith in me.

Tristan was the last image she saw before she left his home. She closed her eyes to etch his face in her mind and repeated his words. She needed to trust him. Somehow, she knew he was going to make everything all right. She just didn’t know how.