"Do you like me?" I asked. "Do you really like me?"
Imogen nodded. Water gathered at the edges of her eyes. "Yeah," she whispered, in a voice pained enough to crack my heart.
"Then let's...go out, after this," I said. "We'll go on a date. We can figure this out together, and we can take one step at a time. Okay?"
Imogen nodded again. I took her hands in mine. 
Heartwood: Forbidden is the tale of the young, headstrong Ophelia stepping into a world of magic and witches. At first it seems like her greatest challenge will be finding her Familiar or drawing her Implement from a great tree, but then she runs into Imogen, daughter and heir to the Magnolia family, and learns very quickly that romance and magic probably shouldn't be allowed to mix. If Ophelia plays the game well, she might be able to get the girl and still end up on top. But Ophelia has never been good at following the rules... 
Heartwood: Forbidden is created by EOK Gifford-Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Heartwood: Forbidden

The next few days were a blur of chores and smaller celebrations. Imogen finished up her diplomatic visit with the Baobab family and we both bid everyone our goodbyes. We left in far better spirits than we had arrived, and were loaded down with all sorts of homemade meals.


We made our way back though the Baobab tree--Sally was the last to wish us off--and retraced our steps through Mumbai. The Magnolia was as we had left it, and I tried to ignore the feeling that I was returning home as we reentered the glade.


True to her word, Imogen met me for lunch the day after we got back. She had rented a car and I packed the last of the snacks the Baobabs had made for us. Then we were off to the zoo.


"So," Imogen said, turning the car radio down. "The zoo?"


"Nothing, nothing." She shook her head. "I just... it's an unexpected invitation. People don't normally go to the zoo on... to hang out."


Chapter 14: The Zoo