A Bear's Bride_A Retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon by Shari L. Tapscott

Author:Shari L. Tapscott [Tapscott, Shari L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Another week goes by, and then a month, and then several more. Soon, Henri and I slip into a routine—a lonely routine, but comfortable for the most part.

By day, my husband wanders the forest, tenaciously protecting the nearby villagers from everything from wolves to careless accidents. I join him occasionally, but I’ve grown bored of aimlessly wandering the woods.

At dark, he returns to me. We usually share a simple dinner of greens I’ve gathered from the forest and whatever meat Henri brings back. I miss baked goods, but I don’t dare venture back to the village for supplies to fill the larder.

As far as the villagers know, we traveled through near the beginning of summer and are far, far away.

With the passing of months, Henri and I become friends. I treasure the time we spend together. The sun has become my enemy, and the moon is dear. Still, in all this time, Henri has not touched me past the kiss I receive on my forehead every evening when he returns home.

And I am going mad.

Henri sits across from me now, in front of a crackling fire. He’s reserved tonight, more so than usual.

We’ve eaten and are enjoying the pleasant hours before we retire to our chambers—him in the guest suite and me in his room. Why he continues to separate himself even though we are married, I’ll never know.

Rynn’s wretched cat appears out of nowhere and leaps onto his lap. Henri absently scratches her head, and she purrs, reveling in the attention.

For the first time in my life, I wish I were a cat.

As if sensing my irritation, the awful beast turns her head to face me, giving me the feline version of a smirk.

“You’re quiet,” I say to Henri as I glare at the cat.

He turns, meeting my eyes. “Are you happy, Sophie?”

The question takes me by surprise. “Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

Shaking his head, he looks back at the fire. “You’re vibrant, lively, and I’ve trapped you in this empty palace, all so I don’t have to face the evening hours alone. It was cruel of me.”

I narrow my eyes, wondering where this is coming from.

After several long, quiet minutes, he finally says, “A woman in the village died today. The entire community wept at her funeral. They spoke of all the things she’d done in her life, all the people she cared for. She’d touched every one of their lives in some way.”

“Henri—”

He turns to face me, his eyes searching mine. “And I realized I’m going to lose you someday. You’re going to waste your life here, shying away from the sun, and for what? I’ll be here long after you’re gone, burdened with the memory of what I’ve lost. And you’ll never live.”

He’s right. But I wouldn’t leave him now, not ever. I’ve grown to care for the hurting prince, more than I thought I would. More than I thought I could.

“I’m here by choice,” I remind him softly. “And I stay by choice.

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