The Heartwood But Get Caught in the Middle

as a son who left, they always returned.

this she knew — had not stratos come home? — and she let out her breath, eyes stung suddenly by a spring of tears.

and etienne warred with what he had been taught and what his heart demanded. "is it bending if these women have love for you?" she soothed. "can you bring change to this love?" her eyes searched him, for the first thing to ask was if such effort was worth the hurt it might give.