Free Like the Dawn (Lark #3) by Erica Cope Page B

interaction with Grey. Isobel is Jacoby's aunt and I'm suddenly worried that she might feel like this is some sort of betrayal. And, of course, there's the fact that I'm pretty sure Adele is in love with Grey.  Things are certainly complicated right about now. I can practically feel the tension in the air...it's thick and heavy like a blanket.
              “Well, I can see you're busy. I bid you good day,” he says with a slight bow before leaving.
              “That was—unusual,” Isobel comments carefully.
              I shrug noncommittally.
              “Is there anything going on between the two of you?” Adele asks hesitantly. She's trying hard to mask the sadness in her eyes, but I can see it plainly and a fresh wave of guilt washes over me.
              “No, of course not,” I assure them. Adele seems unsure, but Isobel looks relieved. I suppose she might have thought that that is why Jacoby left. “Grey and I are just friends. Same as always.”
              Though I'm not really sure if that's true. Is it possible to feel like everything has changed at the same time you feel like nothing has really changed at all?              
              Because that's how I'm feeling right now. After everything that has happened—after everything we've been through, sometimes it feels like I'm no closer to figuring him out than I was last fall. Grey will probably always be a mystery to me.
              Sometimes it feels like our stories are written for us—that our path is already decided and despite what we may think, we don't really have any choices.
              Fate has already decided what we will choose.  
     
                 
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
     
                  I t's been exactly a week since we extended the invites to the other kingdoms and we expect our guests to start arriving any day now. I'm still not one hundred percent on board with this whole thing but I'm beginning to notice that my opinion rarely matters. It's not that I don't think the alliance is important—I just don't understand why the other kingdoms are being so stubborn. Their selfish reluctance is going to make it difficult for me to be nice to them, let alone charm them into helping us.
              I've hardly had a moment alone with my father in the last few weeks so before it's time for me to start getting ready for the dinner tonight, I decide to try to catch him on his own. Whereas I usually hide away in the gardens when I need a moment of peace, Alberico can usually be found painting in his sitting room. 
              I knock on the closed door and he allows me in a moment later.
              “Mia, do you need something?” he asks from behind the canvas. He's never allowed me to see what he's been working on and I haven't wanted to be rude and ask. If he wanted me to see, he wouldn't go out of his way to hide it.
              “I just wanted to spend some time with you. I feel like I never get to really talk to you anymore.”              “I know, I am sorry. This will all be over soon.”
              “How do you know?”
              “I just do. And then we will have all the time in the world.”
              “I hope so.”
              “How are you holding up?' He stands and walks around the canvas to take my elbow then leads me over to a couple of chairs near the window.
              “I'm okay,” I say out of habit, but then I realize I don't want to lie to him. I've been telling everyone that I'm fine and okay even though I know that I'm far from it. “No, actually, I'm not okay. Nothing about this is fine. I feel like I'm helpless—I have no idea what I'm doing