Chapter 2

Blood spread across Kat's skin.

"I know I broke our promise, but I only wanted to give Jason a place to belong.

"Wait for me one more year. Next Midsummer Eve, I swear I'll pledge myself to you with a rose carving."

She thought a few sweet words would win me back, the way they always had.

But I stepped back, out of reach of her outstretched hand, and gave the slight nod that village custom called for. "You must be joking, Kat. Fate decides these things. Since we weren't meant to be, why talk about the future?"

"Nick..." Kat tried to step closer.

Jason hurried over, untied the sash at his waist, and bandaged Kat's hand, his face full of worry. "Nick, don't be mad at Kat. She's just like that. She takes everything I say to heart.

"Don't worry. I'll go explain everything to the elders in a bit. Even if I have to go join a monastery, I'll never come between the two of you."

Everyone in the village knew the rule.

If one party backed out of a match sealed with tokens, that person would be punished and sent off to a monastery, never allowed to marry for the rest of their life.

Kat's face darkened at once, and she stepped in front of Jason. "Absolutely not! I promised my sister I'd take care of you for the rest of your life. How could I let you suffer like that?"

A barely noticeable flicker of glee crossed Jason's eyes. In the next instant, he pretended to be looking out for me.

"But we can't do Nick wrong either. He'll be humiliated in front of the whole village. Why don't... why don't we let him draw lots in front of everyone to pick a match? That way it's still up to fate."

I looked up at Kat. She hesitated, then finally nodded. "Fine."

The last shred of hope I'd held onto shattered.

"No need," I said flatly.

Most of the names in the matchmaking lot jar belonged to older, divorced villagers, at least ten years older than me, some twenty or thirty.

Besides, I already had the century-old Stag and Swan Seal in my hand.

When I refused so firmly, a flash of smugness crossed Kat's eyes. She was convinced I wouldn't choose anyone else because I was determined to wait for her.

So she let out a magnanimous sigh. "Forget it. Let him do what he wants. Forcing it would only make things ugly."

Jason wasn't satisfied, but with everyone watching, he had no choice but to swallow his feelings and give a reluctant nod.

Since everyone assumed I was too hung up on Kat to accept losing her, no one suggested I show my token.

Instead, they swarmed around Kat and Jason, urging them to head up the mountain behind the village as soon as possible.

According to village rules, a newly betrothed couple had to spend three days in the cabin on the mountain, eating and living together while they fasted and prayed for blessings.

Only then would the heaven-sent match be officially accepted.

Before she left, Kat looked back at me for a long moment, her tone calm, as if she were trying to reassure me. "Rules are rules, and there are no exceptions. Nick, don't worry. For these three days, I'll keep to my place and stay faithful to you."

A man and a woman alone together behind a closed door. The idea of her staying faithful was laughable.

I watched the crowd escort Kat and Jason up the mountain.

The fireworks were deafening.

Henry clapped me on the shoulder. "Without Kat, there are still plenty of other girls out there. Don't wear yourself out over someone who isn't worth it."

But who said I was going to wear myself out?

I headed straight to the clan hall to find the elder.

I showed him the Stag and Swan Seal, then pulled a letter from my sleeve. "She and I love each other. I hope you'll give us your blessing, Elder Statham."

Elder Statham looked startled. He was about to say something, but I raised a hand to hush him before the words could leave his mouth.

"We agreed that I wouldn't announce anything until she comes back. I don't want any trouble."

The elder weighed it for a moment, then readily agreed. "Very well! When she returns, I'll personally take the two of you to receive your blessing."

By the time I walked out of the clan hall, my social media feed was flooded with posts about Kat and Jason.

The mountain path was steep, and the gravel trail was the hardest on the feet.

Kat slipped the cloth shoes she'd stitched overnight onto Jason's feet herself. Then she took his arm, and the two of them walked side by side, even though her hand was injured.

My heart turned colder, inch by inch.

Whenever we used to go up the mountain to pick mushrooms, she'd worried about my feet the same way, putting the cloth shoes she'd made onto my feet herself.

Then she'd hold my hand.

No matter how steep the path ahead was, she never let go.

She'd even said, "Nick, I love holding your hand like this. Let's never be apart for the rest of our lives."

I'd naively believed her love would belong to me forever.

But now...

"I accept your vow. Morning and night, I'll be by your side. For the rest of our lives, in life and in death, we'll never part."

She and Jason knelt before the altar, praying for blessings just as every newlywed couple did. They spoke the same heartfelt words every devoted couple in the world said to each other.

Our seventeen years had been buried for good in the fireworks of Midsummer Eve.

"Nick... how about I go with you to visit Grandma Agnes?"

Henry looked at me, his eyes full of sympathy.

Three years ago today, I'd promised Grandma Agnes I would marry no one but Kat. Kat had promised her, too, that she would marry no one but me.

Together, we'd watched Grandma Agnes make that red wedding jacket for me.

And together, we'd laid her to rest.

Afterward, Kat had promised me that every year on this day, she would come with me to visit Grandma Agnes.

"I'd rather not. I didn't keep my promise to her. I don't want to break the old woman's heart."

On the third day, the period of prayer came to an end.

When Kat came down the mountain, she didn't go anywhere else. She came straight to my place.

She was as casual as ever. The moment she walked in, she shrugged off her outer jacket.

A bright red mark was faintly visible on her chest.

I saw it clearly.

Someone's mouth had left it there.