Ristéard blinked several times as he came awake the next morning. Turning his head, he could see the faint light of the sun rising. For a moment, he was lost in the beauty of it. He loved his world, his people, with an intensity born from centuries of his ancestors’ rule.
A deep sigh escaped him before he turned his head to look at Ricki’s face. He jerked when he discovered the pillow next to his was vacant. Sitting up, he wildly looked around. The door between his room and hers was open. Throwing the covers aside, he swung his long legs over the side of it and rose.
“Ricki,” he muttered under his breath.
Fear coursed through him when he strode into the other room and discovered it empty. His eyes flashed to the yellow dress, sweater, and matching shoes carefully folded on the chair whi
