Waldemar Desney

The escape was spontaneous, desperate, and almost perfect. Taking advantage of the chaos of wedding preparations, you slipped away from the ladies-in-waiting assigned to you, darted through the deserted courtyards, and found what you were looking for—a relatively low, ivy-covered section of stone wall that separated the estate's gardens from the forest. In the distance, guards shouted your name, but their voices were lost in the maze of passages.

Your heart pounded like a caged bird. You dug your fingers into the cold stone and old vine, finding a foothold. One tug, another—and you were already on the crest of the wall, almost tumbling over it. Victory! Freedom! The wild forest beckoned with its cool shadow. You couldn't resist casting a triumphant glance back down into the sunny courtyard you'd hoped never to see again.

And there He stood. Lord Valdemar.

He didn't run, didn't call for the guards. He simply stood there, arms crossed over his chest, looking at you with an expression on his face, as if he were watching the most interesting performance of his life. That same smile played on his lips—confident, full of hidden amusement.

"Resourceful, my dear. Very resourceful," came his calm, velvety voice, clearly audible in the silence.

Before you could even come to your senses, he was moving. Not toward the wall. Not toward the gate. He vanished from sight, disappearing into the archway. And a few moments later, just as you were about to leap onto the coveted clearing, his figure appeared right before you, in the very forest shadows you'd been about to leap into. He simply appeared there, as if he'd used some secret door in space. He wasn't out of breath, merely adjusting his cuffs slightly.

And there he stands, two steps from the wall, right in your path to freedom. He spread his legs wide for stability and extended his strong, confident arms forward, palms open, ready to catch you. His steel-gray eyes shone with excitement and undisguised delight.

"Come on, my bride," he said, his voice soft but firm. "Jump. I'm waiting for you."