KARIN POV        “It’s all frivolous in my opinion. There are so many other things I could do with my time…” I say, mocking Ansel. “Like he’s that damn busy. I have stuff going on too. Tomorrow I have two books on the history of fire that I promised myself I would finish.”       Maggie smirked as we worked together to fold Ansel’s clothes for his travels. “Of course, shame on him for not seeing the dangers of unfinished books over battling bearmen.”       “You know sarcasm is said to be the lowest form of wit,” I say, turning up my nose.  She nods. “I’ll make sure to remember that the next time we converse. Instead, how about we discuss the pyromania that swept the land in the 1950s?”“What really?! I haven’t gotten to that pa

KARIN POV“What’s taking them so long?” I ask rhetorically as I pace around my room. I stop as fear courses through me. “Oh my goodness, what if they were in an accident? What if their cars were hit by a rogue airplane and while they were trying to escape the rubble, they started to spontaneously combust and—”“Lady Karin, please!” Maggie shouted, silencing me. She grabbed my shoulders to keep me from starting my pace again. “They’re fine. I spoke to Henry last night. Everything is wrapped up and he said they would make their return soon. Apparently, the delay had to do with Moon Shadow’s gammas incompetence. After the first week, Sir Ansel asked the king if they could finish things on their own.”I roll my eyes. “He has always been a showoff,” I say, though, as usual, Ansel had left me in awe. No matter where he went, he always seemed to dominate the room as if it was made for him. A blush finds my cheeks.He dominates everything he does.“Did Henry say anything else?” I ask, forcing

ANSEL POV Ansel entered the manor and dropped his bags on the ground. “I know I say it all the time, but there is nothing like being in your own bed.” He peered around at the empty corridor. Where is everyone? As if on cue, the butler and Maggie appeared. They bowed. “Apologies for not greeting you at the door, sir,” the butler said. “We were making sure that your room was heated, and everything completed per your request when you return from travel. “Not a problem. Have the cooks gone to bed?” “Yes, but I can wake them.” “No. I’ll wait until morning. Honestly, I’m so exhausted that I would probably fall headfirst into my soup.” He looked past them and furrowed his brow. “Where is Karin? Did you not tell her I would arrive within the hour?” Maggie nodded. “Yes, but she’s pretty tired. She’s in bed.” Her voice was shaky, and Ansel tilted his head. “What’s going on? Is she unwell?” She sighed. “Lady Karin hasn’t come out

ANSEL POV “So, how are things with Lady Karin?” Aron asked as he flicks a piece of lint from his jacket. “I know she must be happy that you’ve returned, though a little birdie told me that you haven’t asked her to the Blue Moon ball.” “You’ve been checking up on me?” “Absolutely. You two have more drama than a Telenovela.” He turned his face dramatically as if he was slapped. Holding his cheek, he rubbed it. “Que?!” he said with a gasp. Ansel shook his head. “You’re such an odd duck.” “Perhaps, but I happily quack amongst those who understand and adore me.” He adjusted himself in his seat. “Seriously, you need to ask her.” “Why? She already knows she will accompany me.” “How?” Ansel scrunched his face. “What do you mean, how? She’s my mate. We’re together. Why wouldn’t she know that?” “Oh, sweet mother goose,” Aron said, rubbing his forehead. “I’m going to change the topic because I can’t deal with this on a Friday. Overal

KARIN POV “It was the funniest thing I’ve ever witnessed,” Maggie says, chuckling. She leaned against my bedpost. “Sir Ansel grumbled from here to his next meeting of mutiny in his own home. And I do not know why he was so upset with Henry, but as soon as he saw him, it seemed to set his anger ablaze again.” I giggled. “Because Ansel cannot fathom someone outdoing him in something. Finding out Henry’s natural inclination is to be romantic was probably too much for him to bear. It reminds me of how competitive he was at the sanitorium. It didn’t matter what it was, he had to be the best at it. By the way, thank you for staging a mutiny for me even at the risk of your heads.” Joy tugged at the yellow tulle dress that hung in my closet. “Well, I, for one, am just glad that he asked you so you can stop pouting. It was starting to be very gloomy in the manor because of the dark cloud surrounding you.” “Oh hush it,” I say, chiding her. “I was not that bad.”