“But that’s not all.” Tears trailed down Ashley’s face. She fidgeted in place and tugged on the loose hair falling from her buns. “I did something even worse after I took the letter.”
Stasia closed her eyes and dread filled her heart. “You were the one who turned me into the guards, weren’t you?”
“Yes.” Ashley’s voice grew quiet. She fought back a sob and bit her fist. “I eavesdropped on your secret meeting at the lodge. Heard you tell Billy you were a princess. Momma always told me not to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help myself. You guys never invited me along to your hideout. I was jealous. It was the only way I could make sure he never took you from me. It was stupid.”
It was all starting to make sense. The blame and the hurt she’d attributed all those years to Billy had been his little sister’s fault. The result of the jealousy of a kid old enough to know better. Stasia steadied herself and faced the young woman.
“I hope you know you’ve caused a lot of pain over the years.” Her voice was flat.
“I know.” Ashley began to sob. “And I’m so sorry. So, very sorry.”
Stasia took a deep breath in and wrapped her arms around her friend. As she held her tight, the waterworks really began to fall. After what seemed like an hour, Ashley hiccupped and wiped away her smeared mascara with the bottom half of her tank top.
“I know you won’t stay,” she said with another hiccup. “But for what it’s worth, I’m not jealous anymore. I know there’s room for more than one person in your life. And Billy’s a great guy. I hope you two make up.”
“I’m not sure if that’s possible, now,” Stasia said, sorrow filling her eyes. “But thank you for the thought.”
If only Ashley’s wish could come true. But, Stasia had seen the lasting impact of her inability to trust. She’d taken an honest and caring young man and torn him apart. He wasn’t like the nobility she was so used to being around. They played with people like pawns on a chess board. Instead, she’d become like the very people she disliked and left him standing with his heart in his hands. How could she ever be forgiven for that?
Stasia waved goodbye to Ashley on the doorstep and then she closed the door. Sitting on the bed, she willed herself some extra strength. Enclosed in her hand was a letter almost eighteen years overdue. Carefully unfolding the fragile pieces, she sighed happily at the sight of Billy’s handwriting in black ink scrawled across the page. Time hadn’t erased his precious thoughts. At the bottom was his name — Billy. She ran a finger lovingly over the ink and smiled.
Dearest Stasia — the letter began. Stasia scanned over it, her cheeks burning bright pink the further she read. Billy had recounted their few weeks together. The joy of meeting her for the first time. The way he loved how they could spend hours together, talking about nothing. How she made him feel when he was alone, picturing her beside him. And all the ways he could envision them spending the future together.
At the bottom were the words she had been waiting for — the feelings that she should’ve realized herself at that tender age. In a nervous scrawl, Billy had bared his soul.
I realize that you think yesterday might have changed everything between us. That now that I know you’re a princess, I won’t treat you the same. But that’s not true. I love you, Stasia. I have since the first moment I met you. And I always will. I would die to protect you. Please don’t ever forget that.
Billy
Stasia blinked back tears. It felt like her heart was breaking into a million pieces. If only she had known this all those years ago and not jumped to conclusions. If only she would’ve trusted him and realized not everyone in this world was fake. Would she have returned Billy’s feelings? Could things have turned out differently for them both? She’d never know.
But maybe, she could do one last thing for Billy Finley and help change his future for the better.
Stasia glanced at her watch and jumped off the bed. A plan was whirling through her mind. A daring, unlikely plan, but still, she had to try. If there was one thing Billy deserved, it was all her effort. She owed him that much. He might never forgive her for everything she’d done, but that was something she’d have to live with. At least he still had a shot of going on with his life with a guilt-free conscious. But she only had hours to pull it off.
And right now, she needed to see about a troll.
Chapter Sixteen
Billy looked around at his tiny home and sighed heavily. He was going to miss this place. It’d been a haven for a short while. A refuge from the past and a place for him to be himself. Now, it was a harsh reminder of another failure at life.
He didn’t fit in anywhere.
It was time for him to move on and accept reality. Find a nice little secluded place in the woods of Canada or somewhere far away and stay clear of anyone he could possibly hurt.
He tossed an empty cardboard box on the kitchen counter and began to drop his belongings into it. It wouldn’t take much longer to pack. He didn’t own much. Just the necessities in life. An hour of packing and he would be on the road before the yellow moon rose in the night sky. No goodbyes this time.
“Woohoo...Billy Finley? Are you there?”
A wrapping of knuckles on his door made Billy freeze. He knew that husky voice all too well. Madge was back and there was no telling what she wanted now. Maybe, if he kept quiet long enough, she’d go away.
“I know you’re in there,” she croaked, knocking again. “I saw you through your window. Don’t make me use magic to break down this door, boy.”
He moved swiftly toward the door, his teeth on edge. If last night had been any indication of the extent of Madge’s powers, he didn’t want to get on the wrong side of the witch. Anyone who could tame a roaring fire with the flick of her wrist could probably do some damage. Even to a werewolf like him. He yanked the door open and put on the friendliest smile he could muster.
“Hello, Madge. What can I do for you this evening?”
She eyed him suspiciously. Leaning to one side, she peered through the screen door and made a face at the pile of boxes on his living room floor. “Going somewhere?”