“Ivy.”

A taunting voice called from outside the cottage, followed by a scratching sound that made me bite my bottom lip. “Why are you hiding from me?”

As much as I wanted to reply, I couldn’t. Instead, I remained quiet, and with my silence, I heard the cottage door crash open. His thundering steps echoed over the flooring as he stepped inside. “Are we playing hide and seek?” he chuckled deeply.

There weren’t many places to hide in my cottage. The distant ...