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"She won’t bite," Mrs. Fallon insisted. "Just make sure you cradle her head like this." Mrs. Fallon demonstrated how to hold the child and then held her out to me. "There’s nothing to it." Hesitantly, I reached out, took the wailing child and awkwardly cradled her in my arms. Aria looked up at me through her watering eyes, her cries quieting to whimpers. "I think she likes you," Mrs. Fallon said. As I looked down at Aria, it was as if the world had come to a halt. She was so small and delicate—so innocent. She knew nothing of the world and the dangers around her. Nothing of the way her father abandoned her and the trials her mother would face. She simply lived, trusting those around her to care for her every need. I sat on the bed in the center of the room as Mrs. Fallon returned with the blanket. "I can do it," I said, surprising myself. I was not ready to let her go. Mrs. Fallon smiled and watched as I wrapped the blanket around Aria. "Have you ever held a baby before?" she asked. "No," I said. "I’m not around children much." She nodded. "Well, you’re doing a good job with her." I did not look up, for I was so taken by the small life in my arms. "I can put her in the crib now that she has stopped crying," Mrs. Fallon said. "That way you can get back to whatever you were doing." I shook my head. "I can stay a little longer." Mrs. Fallon smiled and went over to sit by the fire. The minutes passed slowly as I held Aria. Her brown eyes began to close and soon she was asleep. She snuggled closer into my chest, and I smiled. It was the first moment in a while that I had felt such peace. The door creaked, and I glanced up to find Layla in the doorway. She was wide-eyed, confusion etched across her face. I hid my smile. "She wouldn’t stop crying. Mrs. Fallon was trying to get her to sleep and told me you’d gone out." "She calmed down almost immediately," Mrs. Fallon added. "It seems like James has the magic touch." I stood and handed the child to Layla. "I’m glad you are back safe. Do not leave the castle grounds without my permission again. At least until King Darius gets back." She stared back dumbly as she took Aria. 2
When I realized she would not answer, I left the room quickly, closing the door behind me. But even as I left the hall, I knew that I would do anything to protect Aria. 3
Page 2: Books in the Asterian Trilogy by Sa
Page 5: PROLOGUE James T HE FIRST TIME I HE
Page 9 and 10: knowing the man for a couple of mon
Page 11 and 12: "Not very," I said. "I’ll probabl
Page 13 and 14: "Probably with Gabriel, causing mis
Page 15 and 16: "Thomas," I gasped. "What?" he whis
Page 17 and 18: it that he managed to make it look
Page 19 and 20: Juliette and I sat down at the tabl
Page 21 and 22: engagement official. The ring on my
Page 23 and 24: "Oh, that will be wonderful!" Jane
Page 25 and 26: "Yes," I replied. "I think it would
Page 27: Chapter 3 T HE NEXT MORNING, I met

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