"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

Imogen sped as we left the zoo. I didn't blame her for rushing, but watching the gates my Familiar was locked behind disappear into the distance hurt more than I cared to admit.


"I should warn you," Imogen said after a few minutes. "The Maples are a little... strange."


She sighed. "In a way that's hard to describe. They might seem detached or uncaring, or maybe just distracted."


I thought about Olezhka stuck in his enclosure. "They'll help us though, right?"


"Yeah, definitely." Imogen tapped her fingers on the steering wheel nervously. "Definitely."


I did not find this answer particularly reassuring.


Chapter 16: Keeping up Appearances