I must have stood there, frozen in place, for several minutes. And then my legs were moving of their own accord, and I was running toward the Beast’s chamber. I burst through the door and ripped back the curtain, my mind fully focused on Lily.

“Show me my sister, please,” I said, running my words together in my haste. The fog appeared almost instantly, and I held my breath, knowing there was no use in hoping Cole had been lying.

Sure enough, when the mirror cleared, I saw Lily, lying with her head in Jon’s lap. Both of them had ties around their hands and feet, and Jon was glaring at a guard I could just see in the corner of the room. I placed my hand against the mirror, tears filling my eyes. How had he got hold of them?

He must have stolen the letter Lily was part way through writing me. Which would explain why she hadn’t signed it, and why it didn’t mention anything specific about Cole. He had probably been afraid that if he forced her to write a fake letter, she would find a way to include a coded message to me.

I stepped back and pulled the curtain across the mirror, not wanting to see any more of the scene. At least they were together and looked healthy enough for the moment. I could only imagine how angry they must be, however.

I left the room and slowly made my way back toward the ballroom. Would the Beast still be there? It was a place to start, at least. The raging part of me wanted to tell him the truth and send him after Cole. But I knew I couldn’t do that. It was all too likely he had spoken the truth, and his men had instructions to kill their hostages if he didn’t return.

Another thought hit me. I couldn’t send Dominic after Cole, even if I wanted to. He couldn’t leave the castle grounds. Because, while some aspects of the reverse curse on the kingdom itself were lifting, Dominic’s curse remained firmly in place.

And yet I felt an utter certainty that if he knew what was happening, he would insist on accompanying me, despite the risk to himself. Which meant I had to make sure he didn’t even suspect the truth. I decided on a convincing story and rehearsed it in my mind.

When I reentered the ballroom, I found Dominic still standing on the balcony where I had left him. He turned, clearly surprised at my reappearance. But his surprise quickly turned to concern, and he strode forward to meet me.

What is it? What has happened? What have you seen?

I felt grateful my story didn’t require me to hide my grief and fear. “I saw Lily.” An unplanned sob broke through.

Dominic took both my hands, holding them in a firm grasp. Tell me.

“She…she’s sick. Really sick.” I lowered my voice. “She might die. And she’s calling for me.” I focused my gaze on him, filling my expression with desperate pleading. “You said earlier this evening that I was free now, that you wouldn’t keep me trapped any longer. Did you mean it? I have to go to her.”

Dominic took a deep breath and dropped my hands, turning away. Did he mean to take back his words? To tell me I couldn’t go?

“Cole has shown that the passage is safe now,” I said. “Everything is changing—like the snow melting and the flowers dying. Please! I have to go.”

He turned back to me, his face a blank mask. Of course, you must go. My carriage will take you to ensure your safety. He took another deep breath, as if to steady himself. I did mean what I said. I should never have kept you prisoner in the first place. How could a marriage between us ever have worked in such circumstances? I release you from our betrothal. Go, be with your sister. And only return if you wish to do so.

“I…I…don’t know what to say,” I whispered. He had just given me what I had been seeking since my arrival, but I couldn’t feel any relief or pleasure.

He laughed, no humor in the sound. I must truly be a monster if my attempts to make some small retribution for my misdeeds meets with such astonishment.

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t mean…”

Just go. You need to pack and get some sleep before your journey. I will have the carriage ready for you at dawn.

My body responded to his order, leaving the room while my mind still struggled to think of the right thing to say. When I reached my chamber I cried deep, heaving sobs. I wasn’t sure if I cried for myself, or for Lily, or for Dominic, or for Palinar. I suppose I cried for us all, and for the farewell that I should have had with Dominic.

* * *

I was waiting with my bags in the entrance hall before dawn broke. I had hardly slept, and Tara had been crying over me since I awoke. Even respectful Lottie had broken down and begged me to return, but I did not want to give them false hope. I had no idea what my future held.

When Tara asked me tearfully if I was leaving because I was in love with Cole, I shook my head in frustration. Obviously, Lottie hadn’t passed on our conversation.

“Of course not,” I snapped. “I’m leaving for my sister.” I hoped they would all remember my words and understand my meaning if I should end up married to Cole.

His sneering, cruel expression when we parted flashed before my eyes, but I couldn’t tell them the true source of my hatred for him. “He was a party to his father’s plans to kill my sister’s new family and destroy Marin. I could never love such a man.”

A gasp sounded on my left, just as I heard the soft sound of a closing door to my right. I frowned at the small front door carved from the larger ones. Had it been open a moment ago?

More servants arrived and began carrying my bags out to the carriage. I shook off my distraction and followed them. This time I was able to greet the coachmen by name, not at all unnerved by the carriage that appeared to drive itself. I hadn’t worked out how I would break the news of our true destination to them yet, but that was a job for after we had left the castle grounds.

Just as I was about to step into the carriage, however, I noticed a familiar head among the rose bushes. Telling the servants to wait, I hurried toward the garden, almost running through the spirals.

“Dominic,” I said softly as I reached him in the center of the roses.

He started and spun around, seeming to drink me in with his eyes. I had hoped I would see you again, but I did not like to intrude.

“I couldn’t leave without a proper farewell. I am…I am grateful for what you’ve done for me.”

He shook his head. Too little, too late. I see that now. I did not believe you would be able to see past my appearance, so I let my anger and my hurt pride control me. But you have taught me better, and for that I am grateful, even if I am never to see you again.

I opened my mouth, but he held up a hand to silence me. I am not looking for reassurances. I know we will not meet again. And I do not deserve anything else. But I have something for you. A proper birthday gift for you to remember me by.

“I do not need a gift to remember you, Dominic.”

He smiled slightly at my words, but reached for something behind him anyway. When he turned around, he held a single rose. I took it with a trembling hand, breathing in its sweet perfume. It was pure white at its center, the white softly blending into a cream with the faintest blush of pale pink, becoming deep pink only at the tips of the petals.

I stared at it in wonder. “I have never seen such a rose.”

I have worked with the gardeners to develop it as a gift for you. I feared it wouldn’t be ready in time, but when I came out this morning, the first rose had bloomed. It is called Belle Sophia.

I couldn’t speak, my breath trapped in my throat and tears springing to my eyes. How long had he been growing it? I looked around the garden, trying to regain my composure, and sucked in a breath.

“You said it bloomed overnight?”

He nodded. Ironic, isn’t it?

I looked around in shock. How had I not noticed as I rushed through the spirals? Overnight, the roses—the one remaining piece of the enchanted garden—had withered and died. Not a single bloom remained on the bare bushes.

I will have the gardeners prepare the bush itself for travel, and when my carriage returns I will send it to you in Marin. But at least you can take this rose with you now.

“Thank you, Dominic.” I reached to touch his arm, but he pulled away from me, and I let my hand drop, hurt by his rejection. “Well, then…I suppose I had better be going.”

Yes. Goodbye, Sophie.

“Goodbye, Dominic.” The words felt at once too little and too much. I gripped the rose to my chest and hurried into the carriage, not looking back.