Epilogue
I woke in a bed of silken ivory.
The sheets felt divine on my skin as I rolled over with a contented sigh, reveling in the heavenly sensation. The mattress I lay upon was a cloud. It had to be.
“Darling, are you awake?”
“Hmm,” I murmured, eyes still shut. I wanted to sleep for another hour. Or five.
A hand rested atop my arm, warm fingers tracing my exposed flesh. Shivering, I peeled open one eye.
Everett sat beside me on the bed—
Which wasn’t my own.
I bolted upward, my head swimming. Where was I?
I glanced about the room, noting the creamy colors and fine golden accents.
The bed itself took up most of the space, a gorgeous armoire and vanity nestled in the corner.
I blinked, the light coming in through the gauzy curtains suddenly too bright. Too much. No, everything was too much.
“You hit your head pretty hard,” Everett said softly, rubbing my shoulders. “I’ve been worried sick.”
I frowned, reaching for the back of my head, where a steady throbbing radiated. My fingers traced a decent-sized bump, and I winced at the touch.
A flash of a memory struck me—of me in a dark room, lying on the floor. Everett had been there, leaning down to pick me up. The rest was a blur.
“What happened? Why am I here? And where is here?” I asked, gazing up at him.
He wore only his trousers and a simple button-down, which was halfway open, the top of his muscular chest exposed.
Another oddity. But worse than that were the swollen nose and black eye he sported. Had he gotten into a brawl?
Everett’s gaze grew clouded. “Wren. You live here,” he said, his fingers tracing up to my cheeks. He cupped one, cradling my face as confusion rendered me frozen. “We eloped, remember?” He laughed, shaking his head. “Your father was furious at first, but he’s come around—”
The pounding in my ears muffled whatever he said next. As Everett beamed and spoke, his eyes alight with joy, I lifted my left hand.
There, nestled on my finger, shone a bright pink diamond ring surrounded by a gold band.
“No.” I cut him off, yanking the covers off the bed and shifting around him and to the floor. “This isn’t real.”
I’d never get married. Not to him, at least…
“Darling.” Everett bent toward me, his brows pinched in concern. “You must’ve really hurt yourself when you fell. The doctor who examined you told me this could happen.”
I wrapped my arms around my body, moving to the end of the room. I wore only a thin nightdress. “What could happen?” I questioned, thinking of how to get the hell out of here.
He sighed and rubbed at his temples. “Memory loss. It can happen with falls like yours. Some cretin from the south knocked you over and you struck your head. He’d been trying to rob us when we visited the site I had my eye on for a new business venture.”
“I—I don’t remember that,” I said, inching toward the door. I needed to find some proper clothes. “The last time we were together, we went riding.”
I recalled that day just fine. He’d fallen and broken his glasses. That was when I realized he hadn’t received a gift either.
Everett flinched as if he’d been struck. “You don’t remember anything else?” he pressed, standing. His hulking frame moved before me, blocking off my only exit.
I’d never been afraid of Everett before, so why was I now? He—he wouldn’t be lying, would he?
“Shh.” He grasped my shoulders and tugged me into an embrace. Wrapping his arms around my back, he secured me to his hard chest. “It’s all right, Wren. I bet your memories will return soon. Just need to give them some time.”
Time.
“How long ago was that day?” I mumbled against him. “When we went riding?”
“Well, it wasn’t that long ago,” he admitted. “But when we returned to the estate, I asked for your hand. When you said yes, you told me your only stipulation was that we do it soon. That you didn’t trust your father to say yes.”
No, no, no.
None of that made sense.
I tried to shove him away, but he was built like stone; unyielding and firm. I couldn’t budge, and a spike of adrenaline had sweat pouring from my brow. “Everett, please,” I begged, needing to be free.
Somewhere behind him, I heard the light tread of footsteps. I tried to crane my neck, to see if the person slipping past him would help explain what was happening to me, but then—
A wave of calm washed across me, warm and soft and heady. My shoving ceased and I relaxed, slumping in Everett’s arms. He felt nice, too. Strong and safe. Yes, I felt his soothing presence waft off him like the sweetest perfume.
“There you go,” he said. “Maybe you just need some more rest.”
His dulcet tone had me swaying, suddenly exhausted. Before I knew it, he had swept me from my feet, his arms under my legs while my hands automatically went around his neck.
Placing me on the bed with all the care in the world, he made sure to tuck the covers up to my chin.
“So good, Wren,” he praised, and I blushed, feeling heat all over.
“You’ve always made me feel like nothing bad could ever happen.
I knew from the moment I saw you that we were alike, and now I’m going to make sure nothing bad ever happens to you again.
I promise, little bird.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead, his full lips sending shivers down my spine.
Everett grinned, one hand resting on my waist, the other toying with what appeared to be a shiny hoop. An earring, much like Callie’s.
“From now on, we aren’t alone,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I’m here to take care of you.” He lifted himself from the bed, peering at me like I was his greatest treasure. “Sleep, now. I’ll check on you soon.”
I sighed, about to heed his orders when I glimpsed the flash of a pink skirt from the hall. Somewhere in the back of my mind, that particular shade and material looked familiar.
“Night, darling,” Everett said, backing up before shutting the door.
Sleep sounded so nice. And this bed felt so soft. Rolling over, I glanced at the ring shining on my left hand. A rare pink diamond. I frowned for a moment, surprised he selected something so big and ostentatious. So unlike me. But he’d chosen my favorite color, and it was indeed striking.
Everett had told me to sleep. Told me to relax, and miraculously, it worked. I smiled, thinking of Callie’s silver earrings. He didn’t even have to use magic to soothe me.
Just before I drifted off into a deep sleep, I made out my name. Deep and low and coming from unfamiliar lips. The dream man whispered my name over and over, but he wasn’t strong enough to break the spell of exhaustion.
“Sunshine…”
Blackness embraced me, and the man’s voice faded away.