chapter 15(3)

Abbie It’s late by the time Ivy’s guard finally speaks. “Ivy, the king, is looking for you; we really must go; he wants you back to your chambers,” he says. Ivy’s shoulders drop, and she presses her lips together, wanting to stay but I shoo her away. “Go, maybe the king will let you hang out with me while I work tomorrow,” I tell her, and she sighs. “I will ask. Hopefully, he will say yes. He did say he had to go away tomorrow, so I don’t see the harm in it,” she says, a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she glances at Dustin. As Ivy leaves, I feel a pang of sadness, but it’s quickly overshadowed by the anticipation of what she told me. I turn back to my chores, determined to finish them quickly. I’m nearly done when Gannon appears, sticking his head into the sitting room in the guard quarters where I’m dusting. “Abbie?” he says, his voice deep and rough. I turn to face him, my heart racing as I wonder what he wants. He waggles his finger at me to come to him, and I wander over, my stomac