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Cole is like an eager hound.

He follows me everywhere I go, obeys every word I say, and even when I try to send him off on his own—when his duties do not require my presence—he looks so pitiful you’d think I was abandoning him to the wild.

Today, we were assigned to bathe the horses. Among them stood the infamous pearl-white steed, Dave. His coat shimmered like silk beneath the sun, pristine and proud.

Though, truth be told, all the horses were fine creatures. Dave was simply the most renowned.

This task was meant for Cole alone. For the entire week, I’d been stuck with the most miserable duty imaginable—shoveling horse dung from dawn till dusk. When Cole noticed I had no work scheduled for the afternoon and was visibly dying of boredom, he insisted I accompany him.

This was my first task outside the usual drudgery. And more importantly, my first time ever washing a horse.

I was so excited it must have shown plainly on my face, because I caught Cole staring at me longer than usual.

“What?” I asked, frowning.

Was it because I’d been playing in the mud earlier and now looked unkempt? Was he about to tease me?

Or was it something else?

My thoughts spiraled when he suddenly leaned in close—far too close—his eyes locking onto mine. Instinctively, I stepped back.

He followed.

I stepped back again.

He leaned closer.

Just as I nearly lost my footing, I shoved his chest hard.

“Are you mad? You almost made me fall!” I yelled.

He burst into laughter.

“Hey! What’s so funny? You—” I rushed forward and kicked his leg, nearly knocking him over.

“Yikes! I’m sorry! Since when are you this strong?” He hopped on one foot, clutching his knee.

“Hmph.” I turned sharply and walked toward the horses, my face finally heating up, my heart thudding far too fast.

That was close.

Doesn’t he know there should be proper distance between a boy and a girl?

Cole soon caught up to me. “Haha… sorry. I just couldn’t help noticing your eyes. They’re pretty.”

“Shut up!” I shoved his arm off my shoulder and reached the horse, then turned to glare at him, failing miserably to hide my flushed face.

He stared at me, stunned. “You—”

“I said shut up!” I raised my fist, and only then did he flinch back.

“Haha… alright, pretty sis. I’ll stop. I’ll stop. Let’s work.” He laughed nervously.

Better.

Washing the horses turned out to be far more enjoyable than I expected. The sun was high and relentless, and splashing cold water against the horses—and ourselves—was refreshing in a way that soothed both body and spirit.

I even poured some water over myself deliberately, trying to escape the heat. Cole assisted, though not very kindly.

He splashed water straight into my face and burst out laughing.

I wiped my face slowly and gave him a dangerous smile. He noticed and immediately stepped back.

Oh?

Game on.

Soon we were both running around the yard, laughing loudly as we splashed water at each other. He seemed to be winning, but I wasn’t about to accept defeat.

“Take this!” I shouted, flinging water—except I accidentally threw the wooden basin with it. It spun through the air. Cole managed to dodge just in time.

Someone else didn’t.

Bang.

I was finished. Absolutely finished.

“Clareeeee!!”

Uh-oh.

“Run!” Cole yelled, grabbing my hand as we bolted away.

“Ow! My chin! You’ll regret this, Clare!” came a furious voice from behind us.

Of course.

Tommy.

Why did it have to be him?

Tommy was massive, built like an ox, and just as mean. He liked causing trouble behind Mr. Andrew’s back, bullying others into doing his work. Strong, feared, and respected for all the wrong reasons.

Even someone as small as me couldn’t help but fear him.

He despised me—perhaps because I was the only girl working in the stables, or perhaps because I never bowed to him. Whenever he tried to intimidate me, I threatened to report him to Mr. Andrew. That kept him at bay—for a while.

Things changed after he learned I was friends with Albert, a direct guard to the young Duke. After that, he stopped openly provoking me.

But even now, I could feel his burning hatred from afar.

Sometimes I wonder if I possess a strange talent for making people hate me.

I don’t understand it. Every new person I meet seems eager to pick a fight. When I refuse, they hate me for it.

I sighed, leaning against a tree, breathing hard. Cole was beside me, bent over with his hands on his knees.

“That was close,” he said, fanning himself.

“You can say that again,” I replied. “Now that I’ve made him hate me even more, I don’t think I can keep working here. I don’t want to wake up one day and discover I’ve been murdered by him.”

I sighed again. I should have been more careful.

Cole placed his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t worry, Clare. I’m here. He won’t dare hurt you while I’m around.”

He patted his chest proudly. I looked him up and down.

Then burst out laughing.

“You? Protect me? You couldn’t even win a simple scuffle with Liam. And you think you stand a chance against Tommy?” I wiped tears of laughter from my eyes. “Don’t get yourself killed on my behalf. I won’t take responsibility.”

“Hey! Could you at least pretend to care? I’m risking my life for you,” he pouted.

I smiled helplessly. “Alright. Be my knight in shining armor. I support you.”

He rolled his eyes, though he looked pleased. Strange boy.

“Aha! Caught you.”

Oh no.

Tommy stood before us, breathing heavily. He’d actually caught up.

I winced. That bruise was worse than I thought.

He noticed my expression and sneered. “Oh? Finally realizing how foolish you were?”

He cracked his knuckles.

I swallowed. Cole trembled beside me.

I turned to face Tommy. A dark purple bruise marked his chin, and his expression was deadly serious.

“Let’s talk this out,” I tried. “We’re close to the stables. You wouldn’t want an alarm—”

“Shut up,” he snapped. “You think that threat works anymore? I’m not afraid of you, or that useless inner guard. If I hurt you now, no one will stop me.”

He stepped forward.

Cole moved in front of me, still shaking. It warmed my heart—but he was no match for Tommy. Tommy was towering, massive. I shoved Cole aside just as Tommy lunged.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fear flooding me. I didn’t realize I’d started crying.

I waited.

Nothing happened.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

Tommy was shaking.

Then he screamed.

“Ahhh—my leg!”

He collapsed to one knee, clutching his right leg.

I gasped.

An arrow—finely crafted, polished, gleaming in the sunlight—had pierced straight through his leg. Blood stained his trousers and dripped onto the grass.

Who…?

Tommy wailed in pain.

And I—

I found myself staring into a pair of green eyes.

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