In the days that followed, the same person who had found them in the woods started showing up wherever Rowland and Eliza went. Rowland could tell she was starting to feel uneasy.
“I don’t know what’s going on. I always feel like I’m being watched, even when I’m alone at home.”
Eliza’s face reflected all the anxiety he knew she was feeling inside. Even though Rowland swore he wouldn’t unnaturally influence her, it pained him to see her like this. So he did the only thing he could think of.
Rowland lovingly placed his hand on Eliza’s arm and let the energy flow out of him. Instantly, Eliza’s face softened and her whole body relaxed.
It was a good thing faeries had the ability to affect one’s mood…

The day after her date with Rowland, Eliza spent the afternoon babysitting her niece. Throughout the day of barbies and dress-up, Eliza’s mind kept returning to Rowland. The way his green eyes looked into hers as they danced in that grand house… How he was the perfect gentleman—opening doors for her and offering her his hand when she got out of his car.
As Eliza read to her niece her favorite bedtime story, Peter Pan, a strange sense of familiarity grabbed her. A recognition, deep down, that left Eliza feeling both dazed and puzzled…

“Hungry?” Rowland said as he and Eliza left the dance floor to sit at one of the tables.
“Yes, very,” she said. Seconds later, servers appeared with their first course.
Eliza took a moment to look around the enormous house. It looked like a palace—beautiful gold moulding, elaborate ceiling, marble floors and columns. It was full of life. Music playing quietly, dishes clinking, and fragments of conversations all blended into a symphony of sound. Eliza had never experienced anything that could compare to this night.
Yet all the busyness of the party seemed to blur into the background, leaving just her and Rowland.

“You look breathtaking,” Rowland said as he offered Eliza his arm.

He was strikingly handsome in his tux, while she felt absolutely ridiculous wearing a gown.

“Thank you,” Eliza said, catching a glimpse of his eyes. She had never seen eyes that color—a brilliant green, glistening with flecks of gold. “Have we met before?”

“Once, briefly. My boss, William Barton III, has made several donations to your school.

Orchestral music started to play as couples headed to the floor.

“May I have this dance?” He said, with a smile.

Eliza nodded, utterly enchanted by him.

Eliza stood at the front of the classroom, her sixth grade students quietly waiting for her to continue the lesson. She had been zoning out… again. Not that she didn’t love teaching her class, she did, more than anything. But it seemed as though her life was falling into a never-ending routine, while everyone else’s was overflowing with excitement. One of her friends just got married, another was going on a tour through Europe. Eliza couldn’t help wishing she had just a little bit of adventure in her life as well…