In His Arms: The Complete series

Prologue

Prologue

GRACE

Y ou’ve heard the fairytales of princesses locked away in tall towers, loved by many, seen by few. You’ve watched as their princes rushed to the rescue and slayed all of their dragons. You’ve witnessed their transformation into becoming the person they were meant to be.

Those stories probably gave you the warm fuzzies like they did me…once upon a time.

Now, I’ve grown into a recluse, hiding from the outside world. Marking my existence into nothingness. When my father died eight years ago, his wife—my stepmother—took over custody of me. Robyn’s dislike had always simmered just below the surface, only visible to me. Love blinded my father, and I kept quiet.

That ended on the day he passed away. Her hatred grew so exponentially that I often feared for my safety. Locked away in her Manhattan apartment, home-schooled, I’d become scared of the outside world. The birds, the trees, nature, humanity. All of it is as foreign to me as the moon. I can’t remember the last time I felt the grass tickle between my toes or the wind ruffle my hair. Dating was never in the cards for me, but it doesn’t stop me from dreaming of having my very own husband one day.

With my eighteenth birthday fast approaching, I know I have to decide whether to stay or go. If I go, I’ll be living on the streets. I’ll have nothing. But I if I remain, I’ll be a prisoner. My stepmother could do with me as she pleases because technically, I’ll be a financial burden she no longer receives money for.

Gazing out the window of my bedroom, I watch children play in the park, parents smiling down on them with love.

Husbands holding their wives.

Love shining brightly.

All I’ve ever wanted.