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someone who loved and was as beloved as this woman was could be so isolated that she
couldn t even talk to someone about love was almost unfathomable. Her stepfamily truly
was a piece of work.
Well, I would never tell a young woman to abandon all sense when dealing with
any stranger, let alone a man. Still, I believe your family exaggerated the caution you
need to take.
Cinderella brushed a hand over her hair, putting a few stray pieces back into the
ponytail she wore. They always said that if I showed interest, then anything& bad&
that happened would be my fault. I always try to be polite but removed, but sometimes
after knowing someone for a long time, I forget myself and am more open than they
would approve of.
Reina s arms tensed against the urge to pull Cinderella into her side, not wanting to
insult the young woman s pride. Cinderella, while I pray nothing bad ever happens to
you, I can tell you with certainty if it did, you in no way would have been the cause of it.
You are one of those people who radiate goodness, and it is a crime that your stepfamily
tries to stop you from sharing that with the world.
Cinderella s eyes met hers, searching for whatever truth she could find. Whatever
she found put her at ease, because her body relaxed, her lips curling up in equal parts joy
and relief. Thank you.
Reina shrugged, turning away so that Cinderella would not make a fuss and just
absorb her words, when movement at the corner of her eye caught her attention.
It was only a second, but the chill that wound its way through her chest told her she
was not wrong. She needed to get to Tiernan now.
Cinderella, the rugs are done. Would you take them in for me? I forgot to tell
Tiernan something and need to see him. Not really waiting for the answer, Reina sped to
the barn.
Tiernan was chopping wood when she found him. I saw a servant of the Elf King,
she said without preamble.
His stance changed from wary to on edge. Where?
She shook her head. He s gone now, but I saw him near the gardens. I ve seen him
only one time before and I never heard his name, but he scared me enough that I never
forgot him.
Let me guess, the one with the pure black eyes and the hiss when he speaks?
That a warrior such as Tiernan took notice of the man meant Reina was not
exaggerating in her mind over how dangerous he was, and her anxiety increased. Yeah,
that was him.
Tiernan nodded. You re right, he s gone now. He wanted you to see him or you
never would have. He wants to send a message. Oh, well, at least the Elf King hates me
enough he s sending his best after me.
Don t joke, Reina snapped.
What would you have me do? This is what we were told to expect. That s why you
are here, isn t it? Otherwise, you would have nothing to do with me.
This news may have given Tiernan something else to think on, but the heat in his
words told Reina he was still upset over the night before. That s not true. Maybe we
aren t the closest of friends, but I would never want to see you hurt.
Tiernan s laughter was closer to a bark of warning than any sound of merriment.
You don t want to see me hurt, but you ve been active in trying to get rid of me from
moment one.
I have to protect the Fairy Godmothers.
And yet, Godmother Reina, the only FG who doesn t like me and wants to see me
gone is you. So who exactly are you protecting again? With that, he turned his back and
started chopping wood again.
Reina wanted to reach out and stroke that broad expanse, take away this coldness
that he had never shown her before, but instead she moved inside the house and started
polishing the silver.
The problem with labor is that while it exhausted a body, it left the mind too much
free time to think.
He was right. From Godmother Sara down to the recruit who joined only last month,
Reina could not think of a single Godmother who did not like Tiernan. All had only good
things to say about him. His presence was something of a disruption, but that was caused
by those around him. He never participated or encouraged it.
Outside of the lack of HEAs, in every other way he had some of the highest success
rates amongst the Godmothers as well. If the Elf King had not made it his mission to
destroy Tiernan, this would never have come up.
Reina sighed. Why did she suddenly feel like the bad guy? Why was protecting the
institution that she devoted heart and soul to somehow a black mark against her?
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