Heart of Stone by Sam Ledel

Author:Sam Ledel [Ledel, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure/Survival, Epic, Fantasy, Lesbian Romance, Magic, Rich Girl/Poor Girl, Royalty/Aristocrat, Sapphic Romance
Goodreads: 66354615
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2023-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Maeve pulled back the curtain. Sunlight broke through the fen, resting gently on her face. She knelt on the bed, closing her eyes and soaking in the warmth. The glow chased away the lingering gloom Maeve felt about her last and likely final encounter with Keeva.

She returned to her table and quickly skinned the rabbit she’d trapped yesterday. She scraped and cut the last of the meat from the bones when an agitated caw came from outside.

Rowan hissed, coiling tighter around the base of the table’s leg. The familiar thump of the Caretaker’s delivery sounded outside her door, but more caws followed, harsher each time.

“What is going on?” Maeve asked the room, moving to the door to listen. Rustling among the brush near the eastern fen border prompted a deep, rasping call from the raven. This was followed by the most eloquent threat Maeve had ever heard:

“Now, see here. If you don’t move along, my saol will be the next thing you see, you wretched, winged pest!”

Maeve tried to stifle a smile, then bit her lip at the unmistakable sound of Keeva’s voice. She’d returned. But why?

Another series of caws sounded, then a sound like harsh wind breaking through the overhead branches was followed by a big sigh from Keeva.

Rowan uncoiled, slithering closer to hover with her near the door. Maeve held his gaze, giving a shrug as if to answer the question of what the princess of Uterni was doing here once again.

“You have a delivery,” Keeva called. “And if I may, a rather rude carrier pigeon.”

Maeve laughed. “That’s my caretaker’s raven. No one…no one else is ever here. He was probably startled.”

“He was startled?” Keeva scoffed, then seeming to realize her tone, cleared her throat. “Well, do you, I mean, would you like to collect your items?”

Maeve wanted to pull open the door. She wanted to get a look at Keeva, a real one, but shook her head to rid herself of the fantasy. “What are you doing here?” she asked instead.

“I’m delivering a letter. I wrote one to you after the last time I was here.” Footsteps moved from near the door toward the open window. Maeve shot Rowan a look, but they both noted Keeva stopped before being able to look inside. “Now, it seems silly. I wrote to ask about you. It was more to steady my mind, lay out my inquiries, and get my brother off my back.”

Maeve leaned against the door. “That tall man with hair like a horse’s mane?”

Keeva laughed. “Donovan. Yes.”

“He’s the prince?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re…princess of Uterni?”

“I am.” Maeve’s heart skipped a beat. “And you’re a gorgon.”

A dull stinging pricked behind Maeve’s eyes. “Yes. That’s why I live here alone.” Rowan hissed. “Well, with Rowan.”

“Where’s your family?”

“Gorgons are born by magic. I never had a father. My mother left when I was nine.”

“Left? Why?”

“I don’t know. I think…” Her voice caught. Why was she sharing this? “I don’t know. But she told me what I needed to do to stay safe. To keep others safe,” she corrected herself.

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