MERIDA

"So, what do you want to do today?" someone asked from behind me. I turned abruptly to see Lemuel smiling. He was wearing a loose cotton shirt, and the happiness in his eyes was unmistakable.

I thought this must be how one should feel when their bonding ceremony was approaching, but I had never felt this happy before—maybe because I never really knew who Lukan was.

I shook my head, as if that could rid me of the swirling thoughts in my mind.

"Are you happy?" I asked.

"What?" he stuttered, clearly surprised by my question. I slapped my temple softly; I wasn’t supposed to ask him that. It...