12
Layla
Prince Varian of the Summer Court …
Until now I hadn’t allowed my thoughts to travel that way, but now that I was alone in the garden, with my gown’s skirt hiked up and my knees pressed to the damp soil, I couldn’t escape the prison of my mind.
I had heard of him before, of course. I had even seen him from afar many years ago, but back then nothing about him had struck me. That was because I had no interest in the Summer Court.
My life, my future, had been tied to the Spring Court.
I was glad I escaped that fate, but I wasn’t sure I was living a better one.
My friends certainly weren’t.
I shook my head and busied myself with my herbs. I checked on them, snatched the ones that looked like were dying, planted a few more, and after all was done, I pressed my fingers to the so
