Promising Hope by Emily Ann Ward Page A

like that.”
    Mother cleared her throat like a lady. “Ahem, well,
Grace, we know it wasn’t your fault. Those barbarians pulled you
into this.”
    Queen Kate raised one corner of her mouth. It looked
more like a smirk and it suited her face. “Of course they did.”
    Grace bit the inside of her lip. The queen obviously
knew more than others in the castle. Grace got the sense that it’d
be wise not to underestimate her.
    Thankfully, Jocelyn and Rebekah arrived just moments
later. Grace had to hold back tears as she hugged Jocelyn. When
they pulled away, Grace kissed her on the cheek. “It’s so good to
see you,” she said. She and Rebekah exchanged smiles. Grace
wondered what she’d thought about Dar being convicted of Grace’s
kidnapping weeks ago. Rebekah and Dar had courted for nearly eight
months before Dar went back to Shyra in order to keep Grace safe.
By then, though, Lisbeth had already found out about Grace’s
birthmark.
    “So, how have you been?” Jocelyn asked with wide
eyes. “I suppose that’s a stupid question, but you know what I
mean, yes? It must have been so scary going through that
again.”
    “I’m all right,” Grace said, smiling. She couldn’t
believe how much had changed. A couple months ago, Jocelyn was her
closest friend and the only secrets between them were about Dar and
Grace’s relationship. Now, Grace doubted she could ever tell
Jocelyn about what truly happened to her. It would put her in
danger, of course, and how could Grace even begin to explain
everything?
    Jocelyn used to love those tales of magic from
faraway lands. She’d probably be ecstatic to learn that things like
actually existed. It made it all the more tempting, but Grace
pushed the thought aside. She wouldn’t pull Jocelyn into this when
she herself was trying to leave it behind.
    She spent dinner by William’s side. They talked of
what she’d missed while she was gone. Grace’s mother and Queen Kate
had everyone laughing with their animated stories of the mishaps of
a lunch they had at Sir Henry’s manor.
    Afterwards, they filed back to the sitting room.
Kyler caught Grace’s elbow. He bent close to her, his light brown
hair falling in front of his eyes. “May I have a word with my
favorite sister?” he asked, dropping his voice.
    “Surely,” Grace said with a smile. They slowed their
pace as the others went ahead, and Kyler paused until they were
well ahead. William glanced over his shoulder at them. Grace waved
him on, her smile widening as she saw he cared about where she
was.
    “Grace,” Kyler said quietly.
    “Yes, Kyler?” She looked at him.
    His expression had sobered. “What’s gotten into you?”
he asked, narrowing his eyes. “When I saw you in Aron little more
than a week ago, you were begging me to release you so you could
help the Avialies.”
    She shrugged, as though she could brush off his
questions. Kyler had never been one to take things as they were. It
was a personality trait she’d picked up from him—obviously one that
had gotten her into more trouble than good. “Well, I helped them,
didn’t I? I broke the curse and now I’m finished with them.”
    “You what?” Kyler caught her elbow again, and they
stopped walking. “How?”
    Grace let out an exasperated noise and shook her
head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over, Kyler. I wanted to come home…”
She glanced down the hall where William was walking into the
sitting room behind his mother. “I belong here.”
    Kyler stared at her as though he’d never seen her
before. “You were afraid they were going to kill you.”
    She huffed, her face growing warm. “William will
protect me.”
    “What—are you two courting again?”
    She smiled and looked down at her feet. “We haven’t
officially discussed it, but I wouldn’t object to it.”
    “But you said you’d only be involved with William if
he didn’t support the Protectors—”
    Her smile faded. “What exactly are you asking me,
Kyler?” she