“Though it pained me, I gave in. Why was it that I repeatedly succumbed to the first whisper of a promised maybe? How did the enticer, hope, always find my heart unguarded? There was no such thing as hope. Not for me. Why was it so hard to accept that?”

“Ah, my poor child, how far gone you are in your blindness! Why did you have me summoned?""I had hopes, I had hopes.""Hopes? Hopes of what?""I do not know. The things we hope for are always the things we do not know.”

“Addie always keeps her promises. That's why my mother gave me to her.”

“Then one last thought tugs at me, so I turn back."So why did you name me Tamsin?" I ask. "You always promised to tell me later. Even though, technically, it's earlier."My grandmother's smile flickers, deepens."It's how you introduced yourself to me tonight. I just assumed that's what you wanted to be named.”

“But for now, the only thing I wanted was standing right here, looking at me with an expression so open and unguarded that I thought my heart would burst out of my chest. "Don't leave," I whispered, tightening my hold. "Never leave me again. Stay with me. Forever."The Winter prince smiled, a small, easy smile, and lowered his lips to mine."I promise.”

“You gave me the key to your heart, my love, then why did you make me knock?”