Ash's Place

Chapter 3

Ash's POV

After seven hundred thousand hours, I am finally ready for my evening dinner date. Dahlia has dressed me in a gorgeous soft pink chiffon gown that flows around my legs when I walk. The sleeves are off the shoulder and show off my collarbones. The dress dips down into a tasteful V-neck and I am thankful that Dahlia did not try to dress me in anything more seductive. She did, however, put me in silver heels and I can already feel the inevitable blisters forming on my feet.

My hair is held half-up by a sparking jeweled hairpiece which compliments both the color of my dress and the color of my hair. Dahlia curled my hair so it would lay in waves down my back but she used much hairspray that I am pretty sure I could be in a windstorm and not a single strand would fall out of place.

"Lady Locklynn, are you ready?" Finn's voice asks from the other side of my door, and I contemplate jumping out my window.

"Just a moment!" I answer, looking at myself one more time in the mirror. I look beautiful but I am so nervous, I am worried my heart might actually jump straight out of my chest and onto the floor. I am not ready to meet my future husband.

Apparently too many moments pass for Finn's liking, and I hear the clinking of keys followed by the click of my door unlocking. I watch him open the door through my mirror and I don't miss the flash of emotion that scurries across his face. He quickly draws in a breath and clears his throat.

"You look very nice, Lady Locklynn. Are you ready to go?"

Definitely not. "I am."

I turn to face him, and I noticed the way that he looks anywhere but me as he offers me his steady arm. I tried to smile at him but I am pretty sure it came out more like a grimace than a smile. As he leads me down the hall, I try to steady my breathing. More than once, I stumble over my own feet, not because I can't walk in heels but because every single step sends me closer to the man who will change my life; hopefully for the better.

"You will be okay. I promised I won't be far, and I have every intention of keeping that promise. I won't let anything bad happen to you, Lady Locklynn."

"Thank you," I reply, my voice displaying the nerves I am feeling throughout my entire body. We exited the castle and to my surprise we headed toward the gardens. I exhale my relief into the cool evening air, and I can practically feel the smile on Finn's face when he gently pats my hand in support. As we approach one of the many gazebos, my breath catches in my throat.

Twinkling fairy lights have been strung between the rafters of the gazebo and the way they dance in the gentle breeze is mesmerizing. The table that is normally stationed in the middle has been removed and instead a wicker picnic basket sits atop a checkered blanket. My lips twitch into a thankful smile and I am so focused on the ambiance and beauty of the gazebo that I somehow missed the man standing off to the side.

His back is turned toward me, and I immediately notice how his brown hair has been tied up into ponytail at the base of his neck. It is not uncommon for men to keep their hair long until they are married. However, warriors and guards, like Finn, always keep their hair short. The hair travels about midway down his broad back and I am already tempted to release his hair from its hold. To run my fingers through it. Speaking of fingers, the fingers on his right hand are rapidly drumming against his leg.

Interesting.

I also notice that he is tall. Taller than I am, even with my heels. His black suit has been tailored to fit his body and despite the fact that I have no idea who this man is, I can tell that he has a warrior body, so I wonder why his hair is long. As we get closer, he hears our footsteps and turns around.