A few foreign swear words burst from him. Although I don’t know what he just said, I know it’s in the old fae language and it isn’t about rainbows.
“Don’t be rude.” Laughing, I push his shoulder. “When was the last time anyone searched for the witches?”
His lips twist as he thinks. “About seven hundred years ago.”
“What?!” I yell, and he winces.
“I called off the mission. It was a pointless waste of resources. My men were getting injured or losing their lives venturing into dangerous lands. It wasn’t worth it.”
“You can’t just give up.” I stick a finger in his face. “Agree.”
“Let me get this straight,” he says. “We have to find a witch and ask about the curse. It doesn’t have to be the coven that cursed me, but they have to tell me something about the curse that I didn’t know before.”
“Yes.”
“What if they can’t?”
“We need to at least try.”
“And then you’ll marry me.” He states it like an order.
“No. Maybe. I don’t know.” For all I know, once he gets some new facts, he won’t want me anymore. “But I’ll stay with you. I mean, it’s not like I have a portal laying around, so what am I gonna do?”
Kirian rubs his bottom lip with his thumb before he says, “Deal.”
I get a flutter in my chest, almost like a heart palpitation.
Pressing a hand to my rib cage, I gasp, “What was that?”
“The agreement.”
“We’ve made deals and promises before. How come it never felt like that?”
“Because you weren’t here. You’ll see—all kinds of magic can happen in my realm.”
Oh, I bet.
His fingers move up on my thigh, slipping underneath the denim. Kirian’s so close to my panties, and I want to know what it would feel like to have him tug the cotton material to the side and touch me.
But that would definitely make the curse permanent.
I clear my throat. “Speaking of magic, we probably shouldn’t kiss again, just in case the other kisses didn’t affect the curse.”
“They did.” Kirian scoots toward me, eliminating the few inches between us.
Our bodies press together, and my mind suddenly feels foggy. My nipples tighten, and my panties get damp.
“How can you be sure?” I ask, struggling to keep a rational train of thought. “Did the witches say anything else about other realms?”
Frowning, his hand travels higher, dangerously close to my ass. “No. The details are vague, just the way they meant for it to be.”
“So you can’t be sure.”
“I’m sure I want to kiss you again.”
“Kirian,” I warn. “Don’t.”
He runs his nose over mine while massaging my hip. His fingers are so long, they wrap around to my backside, digging into the flesh. My eyelids grow heavy, my heart starts pounding, and the throbbing in my center becomes painful.
Sniffing the air, Kirian smiles wide. “I know you want me.”
“Can you—can you smell—” I can’t bring myself to say it.
“Your arousal? Yes.”
And I’m horrified. “Is that a fae thing? Can anyone else—”
“They better not,” he interrupts gruffly, like the idea of someone catching a hint of my scent is appalling to him. “Other fae don’t have senses as good as mine.” He breathes through his nose again and shudders. “It’s times like this when I wonder if the witches did me a favor. Because you smell delicious.”
Oh.
Kirian nuzzles my neck, causing goose bumps to skitter over my skin. My toes brush against his legs, my nipples graze his chest, and his stomach is warm against mine. Lifting his head, his stubble scrapes over my cheek, and the tip of his nose nudges my chin.
Inhaling sharply, he lines up our mouths.
Our lips are just an inch apart, and my suggestion that we don’t kiss again is just a far-off whisper in my mind.
I’m about to say to hell with the curse when loud knocking interrupts us.
I jerk back, and the look of extreme disappointment on Kirian’s face is seriously funny. My effort to keep my giggle in fails, and I snort.
“What are you laughing about?” He scowls.
I laugh again. “You’re just really cute when you’re sexually frustrated.”
“I’m not cute.” He sounds genuinely offended. “Kings aren’t cute.”
The rapping continues, and he heaves out a sigh before leaping off the bed. Feeling shy, I stay put. I’m not sure I’m ready for a run-in with another gorgeous fae right now.
When I hear a female voice, curiosity gets the best of me. My bare feet pad over the cold floor as I hide just inside the bedroom. Peeking around the doorframe, I try to see who it is, but Kirian’s so big, he’s blocking my line of sight.
“I have a dress for Quinn,” the woman says. “She’ll be the beauty of the ball.”
“Thank you, Mother. Just leave it with me.”
“She’s going to need my help.”
“I appreciate the offer, but it’s not necessary.”
“There are thirty-two buttons along the back and corsets on the sides. Not to mention her hair. Are you really up for the task of dressing a woman?”
Kirian pauses.
Although I don’t love the idea of being left alone with his mom, it seems like she has good intentions while he has no clue how to work female clothing.
“It’s okay.” I step out of my hiding place and hope I sound brave. “I’d like to look good tonight. It’ll be like the homecoming I never went to.”
“Wonderful.” Kirian’s mom bustles in, brushing past him. He purses his lips at the intrusion, but he doesn’t kick her out. “I’ll just be in the bathroom getting a few things ready.”
She disappears through a door at the other end of the room, and I catch a glimpse of a big white tub surrounded by four marble columns.
Kirian steps over to me. “Are you okay with this?”
“Sure, as long as she’s not going to strangle me or anything.” I add a forced laugh because I’m kinda joking, kinda not.
Shaking his head, Kirian chuckles. “My mother is one of the kindest souls I know. She was taken by surprise earlier when I introduced you. Don’t hold it against her if she seemed cold.”
He’s talking like I have the power to hold anything against the former queen. Yeah, right. She intimidates the crap out of me, but I won’t say that.
“We’ll be fine,” I tell him. “Where will you be?”
“I suppose I should be getting ready as well.” He touches my face, running his fingertips over my forehead, my nose, my cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”
He saunters away, and then I’m alone.
Well, not alone. I’m with his mother. The woman he thinks is my future mother-in-law.
Despite grilling Kirian about his family in the past, I don’t know a lot about them. Dodging questions has always been his specialty. I assumed it was because he liked staying present in the moment with me.
Now I wonder if he was keeping secrets.
I swallow hard as I enter the bathroom.
“Queen Zella.” I give her a weird, uncoordinated bow. I’ve never curtsied in my life, and I probably look like a camel trying to hold in a fart. “It’s nice of you to offer your assistance. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And you can just call me Zella.” She smiles, her hands resting on the back of the ivory chair that’s waiting for me.
It’s in front of a mirrored vanity with brushes, combs, and barrettes lined up. There’s a floor-length gown hanging from a hook on the marble-tiled wall. The silky lavender material is the same color as Kirian’s eyes. It has cap sleeves and an empire waist.
“That’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen,” I say honestly.
“It was Gia’s. She’s hoping you’ll accept it as a partial payment for the honeysuckle.”
“She
doesn’t have to give me anything.” Shaking my head, I admit, “I only said what I said earlier because she hurt my feelings.”
“It’s our way to settle a debt. And don’t let Gia’s comments get to you. She’s always been a bit abrasive.”
As I take a seat, I look at Zella’s reflection. “With all due respect, if you’ve come to tell me what a bad idea this is, I don’t need to hear it. I already know.”
She makes a sound, and I’m not sure if she’s agreeing with me. From the subtle rise of her eyebrows and the incline of her head, I’d say yes. “We’ll do your hair first, then we’ll put on the dress.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I pull the hair tie out, hoping she can fix the mess on my head.
Parting my hair down the middle with a glass comb, she gently works through a few tangles I acquired during my flight with Kirian. “You have a very nice mane. It’s thick and shiny. I’ll definitely have enough to work with.”
I warm at her compliment. “Thanks.”
She lifts a chunk away from my face and peeks at my ear. “I can do braids on each side of your head to cover these. News of Kirian’s betrothal will be a shock to many. It might be better to let them get used to the idea before they know you’re a human.”
“Won’t it be obvious?”
“Not if you’re dressed like a royal. The only reason I knew you’re not from here is because of your interesting outfit.”
I nod, suddenly grateful she’s here. I’m not sure what to say about the whole engagement thing. Kirian’s already announced it to several people, and I have no doubt rumors are spreading this very second. It wouldn’t look good for him if it seems like I’m opposed to the marriage.
So I decide it’s best to just go along with it for now.
“Did Kirian tell you about how I fell in love with his father?” Zella asks, and her friendly tone puts me at ease.
“Kinda.” I don’t know all the details, but Zella was originally a princess of the Day Realm, while Keryth was king here. Naturally, I can conclude it was messy.
“Our relationship was a bit of a Romeo and Juliet situation, minus the dying.”
“You’re familiar with Shakespeare?” My eyebrows go up.
“Oh, yes, I know your literature. We have all kinds of books in our library. Kirian seems to know a lot of stories, too. I’ve often wondered if he convinced the librarians to read to him, but now I suspect that’s your doing?”
“Yeah. I read to him a lot. I offered to learn Braille and teach him, but he said he’d rather hear my voice instead.”
Zella’s eyes get misty. “You’ve been good to my son. I keep thinking back on all the times he came home happy after using his portal. Sometimes over the course of the year, he’d grow darker. Colder. Grumpier. But most of the time on his birthday, the shadows around him seemed to lift. Now I know that was because of you.”
“He’s not the only one who’s benefited from our friendship. I need him just as much as he needs me. Without him, my life would’ve been really lonely.”
“I’m glad you two have each other,” she says sincerely.
I’m not sure if it’s a stamp of approval, but it’s something positive, so I’ll take it.
Zella’s fingers work at a rapid pace, and the intricate braids are done in less than five minutes. She clips them at the nape of my neck with a pearl barrette, then gets to work on the rest with what looks like a curling iron. Only, it isn’t plugged in. Once my locks are wrapped tightly around the metal wand, she covers it with her hand. I feel heat on my neck, and when she releases it, there’s a bouncy curl.
“That’s amazing,” I say, impressed.
“My special ability is fire.”
Excited that I’m not completely unknowledgeable about Kirian’s family, I nod. “And Gia can manipulate nature and Keryth can control the weather.”
“That’s right. What else did Kirian tell you?”
“Nothing huge. He didn’t like to talk about violence much, so a lot of information was off-limits. I know you have a thing for sweets. Kirian says we have that in common.”
“We do.” Smiling, she moves on to the next curl. She does two more before she says, “I understand what it means to feel out of place here. Ending up mated to my father’s enemy was unexpected, and I wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms.”
“That must’ve been tough,” I say, hoping she’ll keep spilling new details.
“I’m afraid Night and Day have never gotten along. Trade deals are necessary, but it’s difficult to manage when there’s no trust. In order to ensure a smooth transaction, a member of each royal family was required to go along to Dawn and Dusk. Since I was the youngest of three, I was always chosen.” She laughs, but there’s a bitter note to the sound. “Third in line. It wouldn’t matter if I was killed or captured during a trade gone wrong.”
I’m not sure how to respond. That’s kind of terrible. I’d be pretty pissed if my parents turned me into a sacrificial lamb.
“But the joke was on my father, because he never predicted I’d fall in love with Keryth.” As Zella sighs, she smiles a little. “The second I saw him I knew he was my fated mate, and he knew I was his. That’s just how it works, and you can’t change destiny.”
Love at first sight. It reminds me of the curse and how devious the witches were when they cast the spell. They made Kirian blind so he wouldn’t be able to recognize his soul mate. So freaking cruel.
“Keryth had no children to send in his place,” she continues. “Not that he would’ve done that. I guess he could’ve had his brother do it, but Keryth’s the kind of ruler who leads by example. He’s strong and he has a good heart.”
“So you ran away with him?”
“Not right away, no. I was only seventeen when we met. Fae females don’t reach maturity until twenty-one, and Keryth wanted to go about it the right way. After four years of stolen moments during trade deals, he and his men came back to my palace with me. He asked my father to agree to the mating. My father refused. After that, I was no longer allowed to go to Dawn and Dusk. In fact, I wasn’t even permitted to leave my bedroom.”
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.” She chuckles before her face gets serious. “Well, I cried a lot, but that’s to be expected. Keryth, however, formed a plan to help me escape.”
“So romantic,” I say wistfully.
She nods. “Trying to keep fated mates apart is dangerous. Keryth was desperate, and desperate men don’t think about consequences. He flew to my room to retrieve me and I left with him. It almost caused a war between the kingdoms. It would have if…”
The pause is heavy and long.
Swiveling in my chair, I give her a look. “You can’t just stop there. I need to know how it ends.”
She blinks with her unbelievably long eyelashes. “It doesn’t end. It only continues. What I was about to say is—if my brother, Zarid, hadn’t killed my father, I wouldn’t be alive today. There’d be no Kirian or Gia.”
No wonder Kirian was vague about this story. “I’m so sorry. That’s terrible about your dad.”
“As bad as it sounds, it was for the best. When my mother died, my father lost his fated mate and he was drowning in misery.” She shrugs like it doesn’t matter, but I can see the pain on her face. “Zarid still rules today. Although we don’t see eye-to-eye on how to run our kingdoms, we have a mostly functional treaty.”
I turn back around as she finishes the last curl, and I have to admit I look pretty, freckles and all. “Thank you for helping me. You did a great job on my hair.”
“The truth is,” Zella starts, “I have ulterior motives in coming here. There are things I want to say to you in private.”
Oh, boy. Here it is. I knew this female bonding sesh was too good to be true.
Feeling like a kid in the principal’s office, I swallow hard as Zella puts herself in front of me.
She takes a seat on the edge of the vanity, but what she says next surpr
ises me. “I don’t want you to think I’m not proud of my son. It’s not Kirian’s blindness that bothers us—it’s the guilt. Our guilt. The soldiers who maimed the witches might not have belonged to the Night Realm, but the fault falls on all of us.” She takes a deep breath. “Our desire to break the curse is for our own benefit, really. We just wanted to set things right and lift the burden of our blame. Kirian is beyond amazing. He’s overcome so much, and we love him just the way he is.”
So this meeting is because of mom guilt, not because she disapproves of me.
Relieved, I ask, “Does Kirian know how you feel?”
She looks away. “I’ve never told him in those exact words.”
“I think you should. He’d love to hear it.”
Smiling at me, she lifts my chin. She turns my face this way and that as she studies my skin. I want to squirm under her scrutiny, but I force myself to stay still.
“Freckles are rare among the fae, but I have a powder that can cover them, if you like.”
I perk up. “Really? That would be great.”
“This is makeup made from stardust and a few other minerals.” Zella opens a compact, and I see a white iridescent substance under a fluffy ball. “It’s mined from the mountains in the Dream Realm.”
“Super cool.” Closing my eyes, I picture myself with porcelain skin as she blots my cheeks and nose. “Is it true what Keryth said about not being able to have children?” I ask as Zella swipes the puff over my forehead. “I mean, Kirian and me?”
“Faeries aren’t very fertile. Females don’t start ovulating until their twenties and they stop around age forty-five. It’s not impossible for a woman to get pregnant beyond that age—just very rare. It’s probably for the best. We live so long, if we were able to reproduce through our entire lives, Valora would be severely overpopulated. It is possible for a chosen pair to have a child,” she adds optimistically. “It’s just not as common. My brother—he has a son with his chosen mate.”
“That would be Kirian’s cousin Zander?”
“Correct.” Zella pauses her motions and makes a humming sound.
I peek at her through one eye. “What?”
“The powder isn’t working.”
The Fae King's Curse Page 7
