Hiraeth

Prologue

Sage stood at the edge of her family's sprawling estate, her freckled face illuminated by the golden light of the late afternoon sun. The warm breeze tugged at the loose strands of her long, wavy brown hair, the auburn tint catching the light as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. At twenty, she was a lady of means-if means included a crumbling mansion, an overgrown garden, and a family that, quite frankly, had seen better days.

"Lady Sage! You're needed inside!" called a voice, breaking her from her thoughts. It was Kade, the knight whose long black hair seemed perpetually tousled, as if he had just ridden through a storm. He was tall, with bright green eyes that shone like emeralds against his tanned skin. Sage always thought he looked like he'd just stepped off the cover of a romance novel. Not that she read those. Much.

"Needed for what? More tea and crumpets?" she shot back, her tone laced with sarcasm. Kade had that infuriating smirk on his face that made her want to shove him into the nearest hedge.

"More like a reality check. Your father's in a mood, and I don't think he's going to let you slide out of another dinner without your 'charming' conversation," he replied, winking at her.

Sage rolled her eyes, turning back to the garden. "Fine. Let's go see what kind of death sentence my father has in store for me today."

As they walked toward the mansion, Sage felt the weight of expectation pressing down on her. The estate was magnificent in its own right, with tall stone walls and an elegant façade, but it was also a reminder of everything her family had lost. Her older brother's death had shattered her parents, and her sister was absent, off living her own life far away. That left her to shoulder the burden of being the "good" daughter-the one who was supposed to make a perfect match and restore the family's name.

Inside, the hall was filled with the scent of roasted meat and fresh herbs. A long table was set for dinner, lavishly adorned with silverware that gleamed under the chandeliers. Sage's stomach grumbled, a reminder that she had skipped lunch in favor of wandering the estate.

"Ah, there she is," her father boomed as she entered, his voice echoing off the high ceilings. He was seated at the head of the table, his expression a mix of irritation and pride. "I was beginning to think you'd decided to join the local druids."

"Druids, Father?" Sage smirked. "I thought we were trying to secure a match for me, not turn me into a woodland creature."

Kade snorted, attempting to hide his laughter behind a cough. Sage shot him a glare, but it was difficult to keep a straight face. Her father was in a particularly unforgiving mood today, and a little levity might be just what the occasion needed.

"Enough of your nonsense, Sage. You're twenty years old. It's time you start thinking about your future," her father said, his voice firm. "There are eligible bachelors to consider, and I have arranged for several gentlemen to visit this week."

Sage's heart sank. "You mean, like, a parade of potential suitors? How quaint," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Quaint or not, they're your best chance at securing a future for this family," he insisted. "We cannot afford to let our name slip further into obscurity."

"Is that why you want me to marry a man who sees me as nothing more than a means to an end? Because that's charming."

"Enough!" He slammed his hand down on the table, making the silverware rattle. "You will not disrespect our guests, Sage."

"Guests I haven't even met yet," she shot back.

Kade watched the exchange with an amused grin, but the humor in his eyes faded when he caught the stern glare from Sage's father. "Maybe I should go check on the horses," he suggested, trying to ease the tension.