This new kindness between Liam and me was no fleeting thing. In him, I found a true friend, someone who understood me without judgment. He trusted me too; lately, we’d taken to sparring together in the afternoons in the yard. Blue had started a new garden, glaring at us when we came close to stepping on her flowers or bushes. Liam was skilled, an even match for me, but far better than either Declan or Finn.
The three of them had become my constant companions, along with Blue, and Natalia too when she wasn’t busy. I’d even beaten Liam at cards a few times. It still nagged at me, his resemblance to someone else, but for the life of me, I could not recall the other face. But it was there, every time he smiled at me.
When we weren’t milling about, we were discussing plans of action. Being i
