I didn’t much care to either—there were no hunger or thirst, no pain or weariness. Rob and I danced and kept dancing, close in each other’s arms, as the light of the sunset gave way to the torch-lit dark of night. I had no way of knowing what the time really were, but at some point Rob and I stole away a little, and he leaned me against a tree, kissing me until my whole body shivered and burned in the same strange moment. “You look so beautiful,” he told me, pulling out one of the flowers that Missy had braided into my hair. “The most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.” “You’re awful handsome yourself,” I told him, running my hands over his chest. “Too handsome by far. We’ll have to make you much uglier now you’re married,” I told him. “Make sure all the ladies want to keep their hands off.” He grinned and kissed me. “I’ll let them all know how fond my wife is of knives.” My belly fluttered and a shiver ran through me. “What?” he asked, his voice a low soft groan by my ear.
