The once bright castle continued to darken over the coming days. Smiles had disappeared. Laughter became a rare occurrence. There was discontent among the order.

  "The castle is cursed." Was often whispered throughout.

  Every door that they walked through, Kasia noticed, Andrew knocked on the frame as they passed.

  To Kasia's surprise Ren didn't return to their training. Wojciek and Tomira remained in charge. And it became rare for her to see her father as he was constantly training knights or in meetings that lasted until the early hours of the morning.

  She grew anxious, missing her father and uncles terribly. Some nights she would go sleep in her father's bed, or the sofa in Ren's library, just to remind herself they still existed.

  The Lord Commander did not sleep much and she could see the weight of everyone's fears weighing on him like a millstone about his neck. But whenever she was woken by his cacophonous snores after he finally came to bed, the tension in her heart would ease just a little.

  She found herself eagerly anticipating family day as much as her rest days with Isaak.

  The night before that week's rest day, she slept over with Isaak at the inn once again.

  “I really want to go swimming tomorrow, but I don’t want to deal with Wojciek or Hugo seeing me naked and either leering in the case of the former or tattling to my Tata for the latter.” Kasia complained as she lay in Isaak’s arms. “Andrew, Janine, and I used to go swimming almost every rest day back before…” she tugged at the red rope around her neck.

  “Then let’s go.” Isaak gave her an easy grin and pulled her naked body closer so he could claim another kiss.

  Kaisa raised an eyebrow, "I suppose the leering I can deal with… I don't know about my Tata though… he's…well…" Kaisa bit her lip. "I just really don't like it when he's angry with me. I see him so little nowadays and I don't want to waste what little time we have together fighting."

  “Then why’d you bring it up? Just to torture me?” Isaak scowled playfully at her. “Tomorrow, we’re running away.”

  Kasia opened her mouth to protest, then closed it. “Okay.” she smiled at him. Ditching a babysitter would not get her in nearly as much trouble as skinny dipping with her lover would. And Kasia had grown to enjoy getting in a little trouble now and again.

  The next day, Kasia informed Janine and Andrew of her plan to escape their guard.

  “We’ll need to run in different directions. I’ll go up to Isaak’s room and we’ll slip out the window. Eventually, Wojciek or Hugo or whoever they assign will come upstairs to check on me. That’s when you escape. Then we meet up at the beach and go swimming!”

  Janine clapped her hands together with glee, “Well done Kasia! I’m so proud of you– aren’t we proud of our little rebel?” Janine cooed to Andrew.

  “You’re encouraging this?” Andrew held up his arms in exasperation. “She’s already spending most nights sneaking out of the castle.”

  “Only three!” Kasia whined in protest. “That’s hardly most! And you don’t have to come if you don’t want– the plan will still work without you and Janine. I don’t want to force you into trouble with me.”

  “Nooo! You can’t leave us behind when you’re finally being fun!” Janine wailed and Kasia gave her a look.

  “What? You’ve been a stick in the mud for almost as long as I’ve known you Kasia. You’re finally starting to let loose. D-did you just hit puberty? Is that what’s going on?” Janine teased, pressing the back of her hand to Kasia’s forehead as if she were checking for a temperature.

  “This isn't just his fault– it's yours, too, Janie!” Andrew teased Janine. “Fine. Let’s do it. What more can those two tyrants do to us in training?”

  Kasia grimaced, “Quite a lot, actually. But let’s not think about that. Think about Janine’s naked body all wet and glistening in the sunlight.”

  Andrew’s eyebrows raised and a dumb smile spread across his features, “You should have led with that. Let’s go!”

  They went to the front gate. Kasia checked in with Captain Erik. He responded to her kindly, but the light was gone from his eyes. It was like speaking to a body whose soul had already left. It stabbed a knife in Kasia’s heart. She felt so helpless to do anything to help him.

  "Good morning, Katarzyna." Wojciek grinned at them. "I was worried about you that first day of training, but you managed to turn it around. Good job."

  Kasia nodded and gave a polite smile, "Good morning to you as well, Wojciek. Shall we?"

  The journey to the inn was pleasant enough. Kasia even managed to get through an entire conversation with Wojciek without losing her temper and screaming at him.

  When they arrived at the inn, Kasia, Janine, and Andrew all called an affectionate greeting to Sondra. Gregosz was in the back cooking, as always.

  "Well, I'm off to go grab Isaak." Kasia said nonchalantly.

  Wojciek grabbed her wrist. "It would be inappropriate for you to go get him alone."

  Kasia frowned, "You said nothing last time. And you are here to guard me from monsters, not safeguard my reputation."

  "I am your chaperone, and I don't like how long you were gone last time. If you won't protect your reputation then someone else has to. I'll go get him." Wojciek turned to Sondra. "Which room is the woodman's?"

  A small smile spread across Kasia's face. Isaak knew where they planned to meet today.

  "Well, do be careful Wojciek. He likes to answer the door naked." Kasia crooned behind him.

  The moment Wojciek disappeared from sight, Kasia turned. "Change of plans. Go!"

  Janine let out a tiny whoop and surged to her feet. Andrew followed with less enthusiasm. They tore out of the inn like the destroyer himself was on their heels, running for the beach.

  Isaak's POV:

  A loud and angry rap at the door caught Isaak's attention. He opened it to find a cocky Wojciek making a show of looking bored as he leaned against the doorframe.

  "Sir hunter, to what do I owe the honor? Have you come to kidnap me to the castle again?"

  "Oh, nothing of the sort." Wojciek replied coolly.

  The knight captain didn't react to his nudity, much to Isaak's disappointment.

  "I've come to invite you to join us. It would be awfully inappropriate for Katarzyna to come alone to your room." He glanced down at Isaak's nethers, then back to his face with a look of mild disgust.

  There was the reaction Isaak had been hoping for. The woodsman grinned, but before he could reply, Wojciek put a heavy hand on the doorframe blocking any exit forward. His left hand toyed with the dagger hanging from his belt. "Just like how inappropriate it is for you two to be courting. It would be horrific for us to find your mangled body, brutalized by the monster. You'd be safer leaving town."

  Wojciek turned to leave. "Oh, and don't worry, I'll let her down easy when I tell her that you won't be joining us today.” The Knight Captain turned on his heel.

  Isaak watched Wojciek walk away with a wicked smile. "Wojciek! About that werewolf—"

  Wojciek turned, obviously annoyed, "What woodsman?"

  "I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you.”

  Downstairs, he heard his future dinner shout, “Dammit! Where did those fuckers go? Sondra? Where are they?”

  “How should I know? Shall I prepare a breakfast for one?” Sondra could be heard replying.

  Isaak just laughed.

  Kasia, Janine, and Andrew let out loud whoops of excitement the moment their feet hit the sand. They scrambled up to their cave to store their belongings as they hurriedly stripped down.

  "Hey, uh, Kasia… I think Janine and I are going to stay in the cave for a bit before we go swimming." Andrew scratched his head sheepishly.

  Kasia laughed, "Sounds good to me. Have fun, you horny animals."

  Janine chuckled, "Oh Kasia, you're one of us now. You don't get the moral high ground anymore." And she slapped Kasia's ass.

  Andrew grinned and slapped the other cheek.

  "Ow! Stop that!" Kasia whined, rubbing her pink rump.

  Janine and Andrew laughed and proceeded to chase her out of the cave with many more slaps while Kasia fled, howling in outrage.

  She quickly climbed down the cliffs, desperate to get away before she was haunted by the loud echoes of her friends' love making. Kasia was certain that Janine was loud on purpose just to unsettle her. And it worked every single time.

  She was also desperately hoping that Isaak would know where to come looking for her when he came downstairs with Wojciek to find her and the others gone.

  "Kurwa." She swore as she realized a flaw in her plan.

  What if he was unable to get here without Wojciek following him? He didn't have a horse. Then again, Isaak knew their plan to sneak out the window the moment Wojciek went back downstairs to check on his charges. Given how he had managed to hide himself in the forest and sneak up on her a month ago, she had no doubt that he would be able to slip away undetected.

  But… Wojciek was the best hunter, after her father and uncles… it wouldn’t be that hard to track them… even so- it’s not like he could force Kasia to put her clothes back on, or any of them to leave. If he tried, they could all just run into the ocean and swim to where he could not touch. He would be outnumbered and off balance then. And wet.

  Maybe she should go grab her clothes and put them on and go looking for Isaak? But- she didn’t know which way he would come from, which would risk missing him and running into Wojciek instead… no, better to wait here where they had agreed to meet.

  "Hello pet." The whisper sounded inside of her head. There was joy in the sound, and a dark undercurrent that made the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

  Kasia looked around her, confused. Where had Isaak’s voice come from? Had she imagined it?

  Isaak was directly behind her and barked loudly as she turned around.

  Kasia shrieked and swatted him, "You monster! You terrified me!"

  "You have no idea." He gave her a devilishly handsome grin.

  Recovered from her fright, she could help but laugh. She sprang into Isaak's arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and began to press kisses to his face and lips as she spoke, "Did you have any trouble getting away from Wojciek?"

  "No, I did not. Are you running around naked out here to give the fish a better view?"

  Kasia's eyes lit with mischief, "Oh no, sir. This sight was for you." She released her grip around his neck, disentangled herself, then stepped back shyly to let him look her up and down.

  "Bold move, little lamb.” He eyed her hungrily.

  Kasia bit back a smile, her cheeks flushing with pleasure at the way he looked at her. Like he wanted to devour her body and soul.

  He grabbed her hand and began walking towards the water. After a few steps he took off his shirt and kept walking with her.

  Kasia skipped into the water ahead of him, squealing as the water, while not icy, chilled her body.

  “Eep!” she screeched and laughed.

  How good it was to be alive! She wanted to come back here and do this again and again. Feel this again! Feel everything there was to feel! Isaak made her want to feel. To live right here, right now, not dream away her youth until she was strong enough, skilled enough, old enough to pursue her dreams.

  She ducked under the water to wet her hair, then came back up, slicking her hair back.

  Isaak stood gazing at her with an utterly dumbstruck expression. Kasia liked the way he was looking at her—like she was everything he had ever wanted. She lifted a hand and crooked a finger at him, inviting him to join her.

  Isaak entered the water and glided over, catching her in his arms.

  Kasia laughed and wrapped her arms and legs around him, enjoying the feeling of being pressed skin to skin in the water. It was a different feeling than being pressed together on land.

  Her body felt warm and fluid– the water surrounding them enhancing the feeling of being everywhere, flowing together. After some passionate kisses, they swam and explored the various coves and beaches the shoreline had to offer.

  “So,” Isaak murmured into the shell of her ear while they cuddled on the beach, letting the sun dry their skin, “before you met me, what did you do on your rest days?”

  Kasia nuzzled into the hollow of Isaak's neck, “Hang out with Andrew and Janine, often as a very uncomfortable third wheel.”

  “Well, yes, but what did you do? Wander? Or just spend all day at the inn?”

  Kasia hummed, “We'd go to our cave a lot, swim, light a fire and tell ghost stories.”

  Isaak made a rumbling sound in his throat that sounded like approval.

  “Tell me, Kasia, what is your happiest memory?”

  "I think… the first time we were naked together. It was…sweet and I was so scared—and you were so gentle…”

  “That is a good memory. Now what is your saddest?”

  Kasia's skin grew cold and she wrapped her arms around herself as she spoke, “The day my mother died. Now it's your turn. Tell me your happiest and saddest memories.”

  Isaak’s expression grew gentle with concern, an expression she had never seen on him before.

  “I feel that I will hurt you if I answer.”

  A small sliver of dread pierced her heart. How could his answer hurt her? She pushed the feelings aside and set her jaw defiantly, "Aren't we trying to get to know each other? Would you have me be in love with a lie?"

  "I am your first romance, pretty Kasia. In this case, that might be better."

  There was no guile in his eyes as Kasia studied them. But there was something…what was it? Fear? Guilt? Pain?

  "I don't want to be in love with a fantasy, Isaak."

  "Can you promise you won't be hurt if I answer?"

  Kasia laughed and pushed him playfully, "No, rude woodsman! No one can promise that. But I doubt it'll scare me off. Believe me, you've said more than enough for me to know that I should have guarded my heart from you. If you haven't scared me off yet, I don't think you can."

  Isaak looked at her, a challenge sparking in his eyes, "You must promise. If you want an answer, you must keep that promise."

  "Fine. I promise." Shit. How bad is this going to be? Kasia thought with worry.

  "The happiest day of my life was the day I married my wife. The saddest was the day she died. I think that's when I started to lose my humanity." Isaak's voice was rough and thick with emotion. He didn't meet Kasia's gaze.

  Kasia's face softened, and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Isaak… Why would you think I would be upset that you loved your wife? That is beautiful." She cupped his cheek and turned him to face her, pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss.

  Isaak looked at her, surprised. "Well because you shared this wonderful memory of us…and mine didn't include us."

  "You're my first love. Of course it was going to be with you. I am…glad that you still can cherish that memory, and not hide it away because you lost her. It makes me like you more. You are a loyal and loving husband. I love knowing that about you." Kasia caressed his cheek softly. So much about him and his attitudes toward love and marriage made sense now. "How…how long ago did you lose her?"

  "Long enough that she has been forgotten by time. How long ago did your mother die?"

  So he had been a young widower. And he loved her still. Kasia’s heart bled at the sweetness of it. And ached a bit knowing that he might never be able to love someone that way again.

  “My matka… she died when I was five. That was… fourteen years ago.” Kasia counted. “I was there when she passed, or so I’ve been told, but I don’t remember. It kills me, not being able to remember my last precious moments with her… Tatu? said it is better that I don’t remember– that a wasting sickness took her and that he’d never want me to remember her that way. None of my other siblings will talk to me about it. Every time I’ve tried, their faces grow cold and they either walk away or change the subject…” Kasia couldn’t help the tears that welled up in her eyes. She leaned against Isaak’s shoulder to calm herself.

  “I know it’s silly to grieve for someone I can scarcely remember, but Tatu? and my Wujeks have told me so many stories about her, I feel like I knew her for much longer. I can see her in my head… it’s easy, you see, because I look the most like her out of all my siblings.” Kasia said this last part with pride.

  “Tatu? says it is a gift, to look at me and be able to see his beloved– and what their love made.” Kasia was weeping openly now. “And Wujek Ren tells me I am just like her when she was my age…so I feel like I know her as well as I know myself.”

  Isaak sat up and quietly held Kasia, though his expression seemed distant. Perhaps he was thinking about his wife…

  "Lets lighten the mood,” he said suddenly, “I've met your Ojciec and Wujeks. Apparently there are brats as well?"

  Kasia cackled, "As a matter of fact, I have two older brats. Kornosz and Jacek. An older siostra, too, but she's off in Italy with her new husband. My brats have been away on hunts…they'll probably be back in a few weeks, maybe a few years, give or take. Jacek will be friendly and likely happy to meet you… Kornosz…he's basically a younger version of my dad, so…" she grimaced. Kornosz was a hot head, and the two of them together could destroy entire rooms with their bickering.

  "Oh, fun. So we'll get to have another breakfast. I guess that I should apologize to you now." Isaak nipped at her ear.

  Kasia giggled, ducking away, but she wasn’t actually trying to succeed. "Creators, I hope not, but knowing my family, it's probably inevitable." She grimaced. "And I do not accept your apology, you fiend! You're already planning to be horrible! Why should I forgive that?"

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  "Because it will be fun!" Isaak offered, elated, "I promise to put on a show."

  "I didn't have fun last time," she grumbled, "I doubt I'll have fun this time."

  "Well, then join in on the game this time. It's not your Tatu? that you're trying to appease— These are your brats! We can make them uncomfortable." He put his hand to her chest and leaned in closely looking at her lewdly as he pantomimed speaking to her brothers. "'I would only please your siostra, honest'!”

  Kasia laughed, blushing, and swatted him, "You'll do nothing of the sort, rude man!"

  “Of course I will!” He laughed mercilessly. “Imagine their faces. You love my irreverence, don't try to deny it!”

  Kasia hummed and nibbled on his lower lip, “I do, but my Tatu? will be there, and I don't want to have to convince him to let me keep seeing you. Again."

  "I think that you defeated him quite soundly, little huntress." Isaak purred, cupping her chin affectionately.

  Kasia glared. "I took no pleasure in that. Dick. Maybe I'll just skip breakfast this time and come to the funeral."

  "I am touched that you would put your anger aside to attend the funeral. I would hate to miss one last chance to bask in your presence."

  Kasia laughed and laid back in his arms.

  "Hey wait for us!" Andrew called out.

  "Do I not have the most exquisite lover?” Isaak asked Janine and Andrew, watching the water stream down Kasia's skin in gleaming rivulets.

  Kasia flushed at his words. The idea of being someone’s lover was so… tantalizing. Sordid. Forbidden. Not really, but it felt mysterious and magical anyway. She smiled smugly as he watched her body and lounged back in the water for him to get a better look.

  "She is a beautiful woman, Isaak, but Janie is the only beauty for me." Andrew replied, pulling Janine into a kiss.

  The group swam, playing tag in the surf and wrestling in the waves. It took all three of them to successfully dunk Isaak, whose revenge was swift and merciless.

  "Okay- Janine and Andrew, happiest and saddest memory- go!" Kasia decided to extend the game to her friends.

  "And if either of you say meeting each other, I'll drown you." Isaak snarled.

  "You don't get to decide what my happiest memory is!" Janine huffed.

  "I'm not. I'm just deciding which one you can share. We already know you're stupidly in love with each other."

  "All right." Andrew announced, interrupting their bickering. "The time Janine made my favorite pie – but I had only mentioned that it was my favorite in passing months before- but she remembered-"

  "I said it couldn't involve the two of you!"

  "No you didn't- you just said it couldn't be the day we met each other!"

  "Well I'm changing the rules. Now, pick a new one or I'll start drowning people." Isaak retorted matter of factly, as he grabbed Andrew and shoved him under the water.

  "Fine!" Andrew roared, coming up out of the water looking murderous. "My fondest moment was beating Kasia. Once, I successfully took her down in a sparring match. Forced her to concede. My foot on her chest, my sword to her throat. Other than Harold, no one bests her regularly."

  Kasia smiled, a little surprised. That was one of Andrew's happiest memories?

  "One time, when we were girls, Kasia and I snuck into the kitchens and stole all the pies for supper that night. We took them to our cave and ate until we were puking for hours." Janine was laughing as she remembered, it was contagious and soon Kasia was laughing too. "Do you remember how angry Andrew was when he found us, because we hadn't invited him?"

  "But then he got to eat the rest of the pies while we were just rolling around in pain." Kasia snorted.

  "Gotta pace yourself. I keep telling you." Andrew nodded sagely.

  "Isaak and Kasia- your turn. Same rules."

  Kasia chewed on her lip, thinking. "After mama died, I had lots of nightmares. Every single time, no matter how late, Tatu? would come get me, take me to the kitchen and make me warm milk and honey and would either tell me a fairytale, or a happy memory he had about Mama. I don't remember when we stopped…probably when I started sleeping through the night. Huh, I had forgotten we used to do that."

  There were several hums of approval around the circle.

  “You're up, Isaak.” Andrew sent a wave at the other man, who ducked under the water momentarily to avoid it. When he resurfaced he began, “Well, that's easy. My happiest memory already doesn't include Kasia."

  His words were far less gentle this time, and it stung a little to hear them, but Kasia reminded herself that it was probably to cover the wound that losing his wife had made.

  Janine splashed him. "How rude! She's floating right there! … Bastard."

  "Oh really?," Andrew interjected. "Then what is your happiest memory?"

  “The day that I drowned two rude teenagers!” In a flash he had both Andrew and Janine under the water, holding them there.

  Kasia barked a joyous laugh, then leapt on to Isaak’s back and wrapped her arms around his neck to try and strangle him and free her friends.

  “Monster!” she cried, laughing. “You are such a monster!”

  “Slay me huntress, save your friends and family.” He challenged her.

  “I’m trying, you impossibly large beast!” Kasia retorted, tightening her grip, and wrapping her legs around his waist now. He was so large she felt like a small child trying to wrestle their parent to prevent going to bed.

  “Ow!” Isaak let go of both Andrew and Janine, his hands flew to his crotch. Janine popped out of the water with a victorious grin on her face.

  “You fight dirty!”

  Kasia snorted with laughter, “Ah, Janine. Realizing that a male monster is still a male! Well done!” And she continued to attack Isaak, climbing further up his shoulders so she could lean over him and begin nibbling his neck and ears.

  They continued to fight and splash each other until Isaak held up his hands in surrender, "I quit. You've slain the monster, today." He touched his stomach, then announced, "I'm getting hungry."

  He swam back to shore and dressed himself. "Relax, you three. I'll get us some food."

  "A meal without work? I'm sold." Andrew laid back in the water and began to soak up the sun.

  Kasia frowned. Was he going back to the inn to get food? Why not have her go with him to help carry everything? Regardless, she wouldn’t be able to climb up into the cave and dress, then climb back down in time to catch up with him. So she waited, floating and then later sunbathing with her friends.

  It had reached late afternoon, almost evening, and the sun was a golden blanket on the sand. Kasia laid on her stomach next to her two friends and dozed off.

  When Kasia woke up there was a warm fire burning near the sleeping trio.

  How on earth had Isaak managed to make an entire fire without waking them? They must have really been exhausted from all their play. She raised her head and looked around for her love.

  Isaak crouched by the fire, cooking half a dozen rabbits.

  “My love!” Kasia cooed happily, rising up off the sand and hurrying to his side to put her arms around his shoulders, pressing her head to his. She got so little time with him that even the loss of an hour made her feel the absence of his presence.

  I miss you. She wanted to say. But that was ridiculous. He hadn’t been gone long. And he did not love her. Such sentiments would likely not be welcome; she didn’t want to make him feel trapped or smothered and risk losing him all together. So, instead, she said, “Thank you for getting us food. I can’t believe how quickly you caught so many rabbits!”

  “I got lucky and stuck my nose in the right place.” He pulled her around to sit on his knee and kissed her.

  Kasia moaned into the kiss and was about to fall into a passionate embrace herself when Janine and Andrew stirred, awakened by the smells of freshly cooked meat. Kasia stood abruptly, flushing slightly. She didn’t feel entirely comfortable kissing Isaak in front of her friends.

  Kasia and her friends clambered up into their cave to gather their clothes and dress, then returned to Isaak on the beach. Kasia cuddled up next to him and they all began to eat the fresh meat, licking the juices from their fingers and sucking the bones with uninhibited pleasure.

  As the afternoon passed and evening drew closer, they began telling ghost stories around the fire.

  When it was, at last, time to return to the castle Kasia embraced Isaak tightly. “I’ll see you later tonight.” she whispered into his ear.

  The three friends trooped back to the castle, where Wojciek stood with his arms crossed waiting for them.

  “Did you have fun?” Wojciek asked them. His voice did not betray any anger, which somehow made it even worse. They all went pale, unable to speak. Kasia finally managed a timid nod.

  The urge to apologize nearly strangled her, but Kasia wasn't sorry. She had planned to run away the entire time. An apology would be hollow and Wojciek would see right through it.

  “Good.” He smiled calmly at them. “Dinner then?” And began to walk towards the gate outside the knights' keep.

  Kasia's mouth was dry. What fuckery was this?

  She looked back at Andrew and Janine who were standing with their mouths open. Slowly, they followed behind him, glancing around as they waited for someone to jump out and yell, 'Gotcha!'

  But nothing happened. They went to the Cantina, trailing behind Wojciek.

  Wojciek grabbed his food and sat down with the trio. “The beach then?”

  All three of them picked at their food uneasily. Defiance rose up in Kasia and she met Wojciek’s gaze. “Yes.” she replied coolly. “I doubt the werewolf is lurking in the ocean so we were quite safe.”

  “The weather today was good for it.” Wojciek continued as he ate. He remained unperturbed by Kasia’s defiance.

  “I was quite surprised when you didn’t come join us.” Kasia replied casually, eating a bite of her spiced potatoes.

  Andrew choked on his food, he gave Kasia an agonized look that said, ‘Why are you baiting him?!’

  “I wasn’t invited.”

  Kasia nodded. That was fair. He hadn’t been invited because his presence hadn’t been wanted. “That was thoughtful of you. So, what is our punishment to be?” Whatever it was, it was worth it. Today had been incredible.

  "Punishment?" Wojciek asked innocently with an amused smile. "Whatever for? There's no rule against hurting my feelings and not inviting me."

  Kasia arched one brow, "But there is about going out without a senior knight. Besides, I didn't want to offend your sensibilities. If the mere thought of me being alone with a man is enough to offend you, I can't imagine how you would feel about me swimming in the nude with one."

  Janine kicked Kasia aggressively under the table and gave her a murderous look.

  Kasia honestly didn't know why she couldn't seem to stop baiting Wojciek. Something about his calm demeanor made her need to push him so he would expose whatever cruel punishment he had in mind.

  "Oh? That sounds nice and liberating." Wojciek continued to eat casually, but Kasia saw a flash of anger in his eyes before he looked down at his food, "I remember countless afternoons spent on that beach. Me, your brats, even Imka joined us before she fell in love with the Italian."

  Kasia's eyebrows shot almost into her hairline. Proper, perfect Imka skinny-dipping?! Never. Her brothers? Certainly. She'd gone swimming with them. It had never felt weird to be nude around them in that context. But Imka has always been so much more proper than her. She would huff and just wade in to her ankles, lifting her skirts (because creators forbid she ever be caught dead in pants looking like a man).

  Kasia wondered if Wojciek had first set his sights on Imka and, after having failed at that, he had redoubled his efforts with her.

  "Were you upset when she married Blasio?" Kasia asked curiously.

  Wojciek shrugged. "We're not friends. You've made that clear."

  "You have never wanted to be my friend, Wojciek. First my Captain, then my Lord husband. But never a friend." Kasia responded coolly.

  Andrew and Janine went pale.

  "Kasia, we're leaving." Andrew said evenly, "If you're smart, you'll stop trying to get the knight captain," he emphasized Wojciek's high rank, as if it was something Kasia could ever forget, "to react and leave with us."

  Kasia's eyes never left Wojciek's pale green ones. "Thank you, Andrew. I'll retire in a moment. You go on ahead "

  Andrew and Janine exchanged a look, then took their trays to be washed and left.

  "What is it, Katarzyna?" Wojciek studied her lazily, "Will you consider it a failure if you don't get a rise out of me?"

  "Not at all. I just don't believe you. I arrived a few minutes late for curfew and you took away my rest day and had me scour the woods for evidence that had been gone for weeks. Then, I run away from you to spend the day with my lover and I'm supposed to believe you're going to do nothing? What are you playing at?"

  "Nothing. If you're so bothered and anxious about it, then maybe you should fall into your role. Until then you will remain paranoid and unfulfilled."

  Kasia studied Wojciek's face, gleaning nothing from his impassive expression. She rose to her feet to leave, "Thank you. Goodnight, Wojciek."

  Kasia left and returned to her barracks, waiting until she felt safe enough to sneak into the castle and through the secret passages that would take her beneath the castle grounds into the woods outside the village.

  She arrived at the inn, Sondra smiled at her while Gregosz grimaced as they were tidying up the inn. No one was in the common area tonight.

  Kasia quietly stole up the stairs and let herself into Isaak's room.

  "Today. Was. Amazing!" She gushed the moment she saw him.

  "Oh? What part especially?" He moved over on the bed to give her room.

  Kasia took off her boots and wiggled into the bed next to him, nuzzling his bare chest. "Ohh I can't pick any one part– it was everything! The whole day! It was just carefree and fun and perfect!"

  "I particularly liked that you came to see me."

  Kasia let out a soft laugh, "I wish I could come everyday…" her face grew sad, "Ivar was so kind to come with me so I could have dinner with you a couple times a week. I miss that. I miss him."

  "Oh? Yet you come less and less." Isaak's tone was casual but there was a slight tension that ran beneath it.

  Kasia flinched, "I'm doing my best, Isaak. But the knight's training has become even more brutal since Ivar's death, not to mention my extra training sessions with Harold. I'm exhausted. You're lucky I sneak out as much as I do."

  Isaak’s expression remained blank, "I’m so lucky that you deign to spend any time with me. Do you grow weary of me already?"

  "How dare you! Do you have any idea how much I risk every time I come to see you?! The future that I put in jeopardy so that you can amuse yourself with my company and then leave when the novelty wears off?!"

  Isaak's jaw tightened, "I'm growing tired of you being angry with me for something I haven't done yet."

  “You know what you also haven’t done?! Told me you will stay! Told me that you want to be with me past tomorrow!” Kasia snarled back at him.

  “Maybe not, but I’m still here! You’re the one that’s starting to disappear!” He looked out the window so that she couldn’t see his face. "You're so focused on whether I'm going to stay or not… you're going to miss what makes now special."

  Fat tears dribbled down her cheeks. Kasia got up from the bed and began to tug her boots back on as she cried, "I have to protect myself— my heart! Because if you leave me—” Kasia choked back a sob. “Tell me you’ll stay. Tell me you want to be with me. That’s all I need." She whispered to him, turning back to give him a pleading stare.

  “And what would words do? I'm here with you now. I enjoy your company and desire more of it. But that isn't enough for you. You want grandiose promises of forever or you'll close yourself off to me. When you fight, do you hold back because you might get hurt?!” He growled. He looked angry…almost hurt.

  “Is it so bad that I love you so fucking much that you enjoying my company for now isn't enough?! I don't want to be just another beautiful memory carved on your bedpost!”

  "You don't want me, Katarzyna! No—You want the idea of me! Some future me! You're ignoring the man that is before you right here and now!" He growled at her. "And don't worry, you've made it abundantly clear that you'll never be a 'notch on my bedpost'."

  Kasia's jaw dropped in rage and shock. She grabbed the nearest object, a flower vase on the table, and threw it straight at his head. "You asshole!" Kasia screamed through her tears, "You-You-" she spluttered, trying to find words to voice her pain. "Fuck. You!" Kasia felt her heart breaking in half. She fled the inn, weeping bitterly.

  Sondra called out to her, but Kasia ignored the innkeeper and bolted out of the inn as fast as her legs would carry her.

  She decided to go for a run along the coast, a long one, to clear her head and calm her heart. But no matter how hard she pushed herself, nothing quelled the ache. She had laid it all bare. Admitted out loud that she wanted to be with him, to marry him…and he had rejected her. She had known that he would, he had been upfront about this being a temporary thing, but the stupid traitorous heart in her chest had been fool enough to hope he had changed his mind.

  At least she had managed to stop crying.

  Kasia returned to the castle and went straight to Janine's room. Then she remembered that her friends often stayed at Janine's mother's cottage on rest days.

  So she did something she never thought she'd do. She went to the men's barracks and banged on Harold and Louis' door.

  When a half dressed Harold answered the door, looking like he'd been in the middle of getting ready for bed, he looked stunned to see Kasia there.

  "Fight me." She hissed.

  “What?! Today’s a rest day, Red. Go to bed. I’ll kick your ass after training.” Harold went to close the door.

  Kasia gripped the door, blocking it from closing. "Oh? Are you quitting on me— after all those speeches? I said fight me!" The last sentence came out as a feral growl and she shoved the door back open hard.

  Louis was sitting on his bunk watching them with interest.

  Harold shoved her out of the doorway and stepped into the hall. “What the hell, Red? I’m not quitting. Today isn’t a training day.”

  "And why do you get to decide what days we train?" Kasia shoved him, trying to piss him off. "I say we train tonight."

  “I see that you’re eager to get your ass kicked.” His lips curled into an indulgent smile, “Fine. But the loser owes the winner.”

  Kasia didn't care as long as he agreed. "Owes the winner what?" She asked as she began walking away to the training yard, looking over her shoulder to see if he was following.

  “Shouldn’t matter. Unless you’d prefer to wait.” He sneered, following her despite only being half dressed.

  Kasia shrugged, "It doesn't, I guess."

  The second Harold had a sword in his hand Kasia launched herself at him in a complete fury. Every swing had her full strength behind it. She grunted and shrieked with every thrust, looking for all the world like a woman possessed.

  Putting all her strength into each attack made Kasia slow. Harold easily stepped to the side of each strike. Slowly he moved backward, luring her towards him—then he lunged forward.

  Kasia sidestepped around Harold and struck at his back as she passed.

  Narrowly, Harold was able to pull his sword behind his back and deflect Kasia’s blow. But it was close. “What is with you tonight, Red? I know that you hate me, but you’ve never tried to kill me before.”

  Kasia blinked several times, fighting the stinging in her eyes. "I'm not trying to kill you… I'm trying…” if she told him, he'd make fun of her. "I ran for an hour and my head is still so full… I need–-" damn her fucking emotions. She rubbed her eyes angrily, "I need to be so tired that I can't think or feel anything. Can you do that?!" She snapped at him, readying herself for another attack.

  “As you wish.” He shrugged, then without missing a beat, he charged forward and brought his sword down from above.

  Kasia blocked it. Her arms trembled, but she blocked it. Kasia tried to kick at Harold’s legs, but there wasn't much strength behind it and he avoided it.

  “Come on, Red! You can do better. Or are you too much of a woman?” Harold sneered as he avoided her kick. While she was on one foot, he shoved her hard to make her fall down.

  Again, Kasia barely managed to stay up. She grit her teeth and actually smiled. Harold's baiting was actually helping her forget.

  Kasia lunged forward and rammed Harold with her shoulder.

  Harold grunted as he was thrown backwards, the air knocked out of his chest. “Bitch!” He wheezed.

  "Dick." She countered, thrusting forward with her sword. Kasia struck a blow to Harold's gut. It hit with a satisfying meaty sound that soothed the raging beast inside her.

  “Ow! Good one!” Harold took the hit without losing momentum, spinning around to slash at her back.

  “Thanks!” Kasia beamed brightly as she parried his blow and tried to disarm him.

  Harold growled as the sword flung from his grip. His expression turned sour now that the battle was turning in her favor. Disarmed, he rushed forward and tackled Kasia to the ground, his weight knocking the wind out of her.

  “Ow! Kurwa!” Kasia grunted beneath him. She laid there, stunned, while her lungs tried to remember how to breathe. When the paralysis wore off she sucked in a gasping breath and struggled under his weight for a few moments, then gave up. He weighed at least twice what she did. She wasn’t getting out until he let her up.

  A wicked idea hit her. She knew how to get him off of her. She grabbed his face and brought her lips to his, kissing him.

  The sudden change in Kasia’s behavior caught Harold by surprise. His entire body froze, going stiff as a board—but then he began to kiss her back.

  That—that was not what Kasia had expected him to do. She had expected him to freak out and leap off of her! But… kissing was nice. And it felt good to kiss and to be in someone’s arms. Fuck Isaak, that rude dick! How dare he not love her! So Kasia deepened the kiss; she wrapped her arms around Harold and lost herself in physical pleasure.

  The kiss was rough. Harold leaned his body as far into her as possible. One hand grabbed her waist, the other grabbed her hair as he bit her lip.

  A surprised moan escaped Kasia’s mouth at his intensity. His demanding lips left no room for any other thoughts in her head. It was exactly what Kasia needed. She fisted his hair and pressed his mouth to hers so hard that it hurt, but the pain sent a thrill through her. She thrust her tongue into his open mouth, devouring him.

  His hands slid up the inside her shirt, along her sides. His touch became aggressive and possessive, daring her to stop him.

  Guilt flooded through Kasia. She was only doing this to punish Isaak for not loving her… because she loved him and he was who she wanted to be kissing.

  Kasia pushed Harold off of her, shame burning her throat. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

  Harold let her push him off and sat beside her.

  "Then why did you?" His voice was uncharacteristically soft. "Red?"

  Kasia covered her face with her hands. She was tempted to tell him to fuck off. It was what he had done to her when she had tried to comfort him. But she had gone to him tonight because she couldn't bear to be alone with her thoughts, and he was actually reaching out.

  "Because the man I love doesn't love me back, and I want more and he doesn't and it just…fucking hurts."

  Harold was quiet for a moment, then shrugged, "Fuck him."

  Kasia glanced over at him, "I was trying to— with the kiss, but I think too much of you to use you to drown my pain…it was a really nice kiss though." Kasia gave a soft chuckle. "The fight helped, too…so thank you." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "And…thank you for asking.'

  Kasia wondered how long this concern would last before Harold turned back into a raging dick that lashed out at her again… it was rather like trying to cuddle with a grizzly bear.

  "I can't have my training partner distracted." Harold grunted. "That kiss…"

  Harold fell quiet again. Kasia braced herself for what he might say next.

  "... His loss."

  Kasia wrapped her arms around Harold's shoulder, pressing her forehead to his temple. She squeezed him tightly for a long minute.

  "Thank you for tonight Harold…for everything." She said softly, then rose to her feet and silently padded away, away from the training yard and back to her empty barracks room.

  Alone in the darkness of her quarters, with only a sliver of moonlight to see by, she peeled off her sweaty clothes and washed her body with the pitcher of clean water on the night stand.

  Her head was a torn mix of Isaak's cold face, Harold's burning kiss, Isaak's hurtful rejection, and thoughts of a future that once had seemed so bright. Now it was like a sinister ghost stalking her, drawing ever closer. The day Isaak would leave her, the day he would break her heart.

  She wished she could go back to earlier today, when they were all so happy on the beach. When she was cradled in Isaak's strong embrace, when she didn't question his affection for her or worry that his departure might arrive and he wouldn't want her by his side.

  Kasia cried into her pillow, tucking her knees up to her chest. Finally the exhaustion hit her like a millstone. She blinked once, and then the darkness claimed her in a dreamless sleep.