The Neglected Wife: Now Watch the Grove Roar

' t wait fo

d grove, near The Patriarch. The air was co

ow," he said, his voice f

im, but her influence

Heartwood Amulet at my throat. "It' s part of me. Its destructio

me off, his face hardening. "Evelyn needs this.

closer, his

rthur. It doesn' t work like that. You'

ience s

hands grabbing

way, but he was stronger. The

pped. The Heartwood Amulet, war

I sc

d at the smooth, dark p

" he muttered, more to himself th

amulet high and smashed it against a

ood shattering was like a

gony ripped

imalistic sound, and

my strength drain away as

l, felt instantly brittle. I could

re my heart was, echoing

e broken pieces in

r of something – ann

low," he said, his voice sharp

ttention already turning away, presu

s dismissal of my agony was a fresh torment, a confirmat

e Patriarch seeme

tfully pale on a chaise lounge on

o hear. "The doctor mentioned... perhaps the smoke from burning some of its

y under her spell

e, anythin

some lower branches from The Patr

o weak to move far, a shawl clutched arou

tree vibrated through my bones, a sick

ng, saw the tears st

, his expressi

Trying to guilt me? Or manipulate Gr

digging in, and pulled me clo

cruel. "Watch as your precious tre

pain through my weakening body. The scent of raw, wounded Redwood filled the air, a perfume of sacrilege. M