Riley waited only a few minutes before he caught the soft sound of approaching footsteps.
Fiona appeared from around the bend in the path, her pace unhurried and graceful, as if she had all the time in the world.
Her long hair shimmered in the morning light, and there was an almost ethereal calm in the way she moved.
Behind her came Rose, quieter but no less striking, the two of them side by side like a vision from a dream—two young fairies who had stepped out of a forgotten legend.
Together, they were a breathtaking sight. Any man would have stared. And Riley, for all his restraint, was no exception.
"Good morning, Master Riley," Fiona said as she approached. Her voice was soft, musical, and carried the slightest teasing lilt.
She stopped a few paces away and dipped into a graceful bow. "Thank you for honoring me with your presence."
Riley didn't answer right away. His eyes remained on her, lingering longer than politeness allowed.
