“No, wait. What are you doing?” “Another witch has arrived to aid the queen in her dark quest.” “What?” she choked out. Before the men could drag her away, another figure emerged from the castle. It was Grantland, accompanied by a second group of armed men. “Hold,” he ordered. Some of the first set of men remained defiant. Others looked sheepish. When Grantland and his force advanced, the others fell back. “Come inside,” he said to Willow. There was muttering among the soldiers she had first encountered, but Willow was allowed to follow Grantland into the castle. Instead of leading her to one of the common rooms on the ground floor, he and his guards escorted her directly upstairs, past more guards to a room that was closed off by a stout door. Grantland opened it, and Willow stepped inside, crying out in relief as she saw Rowan standing opposite her, dressed in the satin-and-lace gown of a queen.
