Free Huntsman: Love Will Find a Way by Rebecca Davis

eyes, before continuing . “You asked the Queen for it, but she had said no . She said you already had so many beautiful necklaces at home, you didn’t need another . ”
    “I remember that day . I was a little disappointed, but she had a point . ” I laid my head on his shoulder . “There were so many other children my age who had so much less than I did . I didn’t need another necklace when they didn’t even have enough food to eat . ”
    He nodded . “That’s true . But, I think the scores have been evened out some . ”
    I watched as he reached for the small box on the stump . Handing it to me, an anxious look crossed his features . I simply held the box for some time, staring at it .
    “Is this what I think it is?”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 13
Huntsman
     
    I nodded . “It is . ”
    I heard her inhale sharply as she opened it . Pulling it out, she set down the box and twirled the chain in the air . The lights from the candles danced around the watch, making it shine in the night .
    “It’s just as beautiful as I remember . ” She murmured .
    I took it out of her hands and clasped it around her neck . She fingered the small pendant, laying her head on my shoulder . I wrapped my arms around her, wondering what she was thinking . When I asked her, she sighed gently .
    “You seem so perfect . There has to be something about you, something that you don’t want anyone else to know about . ”
    “If there’s not?”
    “Then you’re too good to be true,” she laughed a little .
    “And,” I paused . “What if I do?”
    She was quiet for some time . “Then that means you’re real . ”
    I wasn’t sure what to make of her answer . It was a strange one, that’s for sure . But, it was also honest . I craved honesty like some craved sugar or the sun on their skin . I didn’t like liars or those who cover up the truth .
    “Thank you,” I finally said .
    “You’re welcome . ”
    When we were walking home later that night, I felt her thin fingers brush mine in the darkening forest . Loosely, I looped mine with hers, stiff from unsureness . Her head found its way to rest on my upper arm, and I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding .
    “Would it be to forward,” she started, her voice quiet, even in the silence that surrounded us . “For me to say that I think I’m falling deeply in love with you?”
    “No,” I placed my hand on the one of hers that was looped around my arm . “Because I am sure that I have already fallen too deeply for you than would be possible to escape . ”
    We continued to walk silently for some time, enjoying the small truth that we had just afforded each other . Just before our home came into view, she spoke, again surprising me . This time, though, her voice was full and full of surety .
    “I want to complete the Bond . ”
    I stopped us . Turning her towards me, holding her gently in place by her arms, looking her deep in her eyes . “Are you sure? Once it’s completed, it can never be broken . ”
    She nodded . “I know . I also know that, though it is extremely rare, there have been couples that were not able to Bond . They spent their entire lives believing they were meant to be together, just to find out that they, in fact, were not . ”
    She took a step closer . “There have also been couples that didn’t want to risk everything for each other . They were too afraid of it ending badly, without the Fates on their sides . ”
    “And you still want this?” I asked . “Even after knowing all of this?”
    “Yes,” she took my hands in hers, never breaking eye contact with me, as if she wanted me to see into her very soul, to see the truth of her words . And, I did . I could tell that she meant what she said, I could see it in her eyes . But, still, I had to know .
    “Why?”
    “Because, I don’t want