Three Weeks Later

---

Dear Morna,

I know that you won’t respond to this letter, and that’s absolutely fine. I hope it finds you well all the same. This surprises no one more than me, but I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for all you didn’t do. I can see now why you stayed away.

If you’d given me a way to get home, I might’ve run before I allowed myself to fall in love.

If you’d stepped in to help me with Machara, I wouldn’t have learned my own strength. And if not for the book you placed in my path, Kate wouldn’t have done all the research that prompted her to come here.

She’s going to like it in this time, I can tell. And if the way Maddock keeps looking at her is any indication, I have a feeling we may have another romance on our hands very soon.

But you already knew that, didn’t you?

“Yer mother is looking for ye, lass. She wishes to speak to ye before we leave for our honeymoon.”

I groaned and set down the quill as Raudrich entered the bedchamber.

“How long until her cottage is finished?” Mom had been the stressed-out terror I’d known she would be from the moment she arrived.

Raudrich laughed and bent to kiss me as I walked over to him.

“A fortnight, at least. She isna so bad, really. Paton rather likes her.”

“Paton doesn’t like her. He likes irritating her. He gets way too much pleasure from it.”

Secretly, so did I.

Raudrich rested his chin on the top of my head as I snuggled into him.

“What are ye doing, lass? Please doona tell me ye’ve already grown bored of yer husband and have found another man to write love letters to.”

“Nothing about you bores me.” I smiled and unthinkingly placed my left hand on his shoulder to pull myself up to kiss him. He winced and stepped away from me.

“Careful, lass. ’Tis still quite tender.”

“You should’ve let them heal you with magic like they did last time.”

He shook his head.

“I doona wish to be rid of this scar, lass. It reminds me of how much ye care for me. I’ve never had someone love me enough to stab me straight through.” He paused and pointed to the writing table. “Will ye be long? I’ve the horse packed and ready.”

“I can’t wait to go away with you. I’ll hurry down as fast as I can.”

He kissed me until I was breathless. I knew he meant to give me a taste of what was waiting for me once we got away from the castle for our month-long respite together.

Once he was gone, I moved to finish my letter, scribbling much more quickly than before.

Raudrich is waiting for me, so I must hurry. We’re about to leave on our honeymoon, but I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am for your interference in my life. I didn’t know how much was missing from my life—the joy, love, adventure, and friendship. I wasn’t totally sure at first, but you’ve converted me. I’m a fan. Although he’ll never say it out loud, I’m pretty sure Marcus is, too.

Much love,

Laurel

P.S. Speaking of Marcus, can I ask you for a favor on his behalf? Since you can’t seem to help yourself when it comes to setting people up, send someone Marcus’ way when the time is right. He needs someone, too.

Folding the letter neatly, I sealed it with a kiss and threw it into the flames.

I could scarcely believe how much my life had changed in a matter of months.

All thanks to one meddling witch and a whole lot of love.