by Teresa Roman
I could never return to Beaver Falls. Not after what happened to my father and Grace. I always knew one day I’d leave. I had nothing there to return to, so leaving now seemed right. The idea of picking up and moving to a new country was daunting, but I’d always wanted to see Europe. Plenty of people would jump at the adventure Nicolai was offering. I would not let fear hold me back.
“I love you too,” I said, looking into his eyes. They gleamed with delight. “So yes, I’ll go to Sarabia with you.”
“Do you mean it?”
I nodded. Nicolai pulled me closer and pressed his lips on mine. His arms wrapped around me as he deepened the kiss. I threaded my hands through his hair. Eventually, his lips left mine and traveled to my neck. My breath hitched. He let out a low growl, seemingly pleased with the way my body was responding to his.
“Not here,” I said. “Not on my aunt’s couch.”
Nicolai pulled away. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He reached for my hand and laced his fingers through mine. He stared down at our intertwined hands.
“What are you thinking?” I finally asked.
“That I can’t believe you just agreed to come home with me. I want to get you on a plane right now before you change your mind and come up with some other crazy reason to leave me. But I know that’s not right. Because I never want to push you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
I realized then what I’d done by running instead of gathering the courage to talk to Nicolai. I’d broken his trust. “I’m sorry that I hurt you. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I see that I made a huge mistake. I should have never listened to Frederic.”
“He’s the reason you left?”
I lowered my eyes. “Yes.”
Nicolai took my chin in his hand. “Look at me,” he commanded. “My brother has been awful to you, but that stops today. If he so much as looks at you the wrong way, I want to know about it.”
“You’re always rescuing me.”
“And that bothers you?”
“Of course it does. I’ve never wanted to be some silly damsel in distress.”
“I don’t think of you in that way. You’ve saved me as many times as I’ve saved you.”
Before I could reply, Maria poked her head into the room. “Can I come in?”
“Of course,” I replied.
“I don’t want to rush either of you, but I’m hoping you’ve been able to sort out your differences.”
Nicolai glanced at me. “Can I tell her?”
I smiled. “Go ahead.”
“Willow has agreed to come to Sarabia with us.” He stood and then reached for my hands, pulling me to my feet. “And one day, when she’s ready, she will be my bride.”
“I was hoping that’s what you were going to say.” Maria crossed the room and gave Nicolai a quick hug before embracing me.
“I should talk to my aunt and let her know what’s happening.”
I walked away and went to look for Delilah and Lisa. They were sitting at the kitchen table, hands wrapped around steaming mugs of coffee. I doubted either of them had slept any part of the night.
“I’m so sorry for the trouble I’ve caused,” I said sliding into an empty seat across from my aunt.
“Trouble?” Lisa said with a smile. “I was actually just thinking how nice it is that I finally got to meet my niece.”
“I’ve loved every minute of having you here,” Delilah added.
I smiled back. “Even the part where I almost blew up your attic?”
“Yes, even that part.” Delilah laughed and then took a sip of her coffee. “Why do I get the feeling that you came to tell us goodbye?”
“Nicolai and I talked and we managed to work out our differences. He’s planning to return home, to his country, and he asked if I’d go with him.”
“And you agreed?”
I nodded. “Do you think I’m crazy?”
Delilah reached across the table for my hand. “Nicolai will take good care of you. I’m sure of it. Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t worry. So you have to promise to keep in touch.”
“When are you leaving?” Lisa asked.
“I don’t know. Probably soon, though. Nicolai’s brothers are eager to return home. They’re probably furious with me for delaying their return. I don’t want to give them a reason to hate me more than they already do.”
“They will grow to love you. I’m certain of it.” Delilah took her cup over to the sink then turned around to look at me. Despite her smile she seemed upset. I would miss her too. “Do you need help packing?”
“Nicolai and I don’t have to leave right now. I can wait until the morning.”
“You can, but you won’t. The only reason you want to stay is because you’re worried I’ll be sad. And I will be, but I’ll also be happy because I know what you want more than anything right now is to go home with Nicolai.”
I walked over to my aunt and hugged her, then I whispered in her ear, “I love you.”
She kissed my forehead and said, “I love you too.”
I turned to hug Lisa as well and then walked away before I started to cry. I went to the attic to pack my things and a few minutes later, returned downstairs. Nicolai took my bags.
“Take as much time as you need to say goodbye. Maria and I will be waiting in the car for you.”
“What about my car? I can’t just leave it here.”
“You’ll have to, because you don’t honestly think I’m going to let you out of my sight so soon after I found you? Besides, it makes no sense to have that old car shipped all the way to Sarabia. I promise that after we arrive home, I will buy you any car you want.”
“Nicolai loves you very much,” Maria said before I had a chance to protest. “He also happens to be a prince with a lot of money. Your father raised you to have impeccable manners, which is why accepting lavish presents is difficult for you, but you’re just going to have to get used to it.”
“She’s right.” Nicolai kissed me. “You will.”
I shook my head. “You two are impossible. Did you know that?”
“You’re a bit impossible yourself,” Maria said with a grin.
Nicolai and Maria walked away while I returned to the kitchen to say goodbye again to Lisa and my aunt.
“Promise me you’ll visit,” I said to them.
“We will. Lisa and I have been talking about going on a European vacation for a while. Now we have one more reason to finally start making travel plans.”
“Thank you both, for everything.”
“Let me walk you to the door,” Delilah said.
As we reached it, I turned to give my aunt one last hug goodbye. “Be safe, Willow.”
“I will be.”
I opened the door and headed down the path toward Nicolai’s parked car, sparing my aunt one last glance over my shoulder. She waved goodbye.
“Are you ready?” Nicolai asked.
I nodded, and he took my hand. “Then come.”
He opened the passenger-side door for me. As he got into the driver’s seat, I buckled my seatbelt, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart. It was hard. Excitement bubbled inside of me.
I was about to start the adventure of a lifetime with my prince at my side.
Willow and Nicolai’s adventures have only just begun. Find out what happens next in The Twisted Path, book 3 of The Cursed Prince series. Click below to pre-order your copy today!
The Twisted Path
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Also by Teresa Roman:
Back to Us
Out of Nowhere
Someone Special
Daughter of Magic
Daughter of Darkness
Legacy
Second Chances
The Cursed Prince
Acknowledgments
I’d like to give a special shout-out to my loyal readers. Your support means more than I can say. I also want to thank all the people who have stood by me and cheered me on since I decided to start writing a few years ago. I can’t even begin to explain how much your encouraging words have meant to me. I am beyond grateful to my fabulous sister, who reads all my manuscripts when they’re a hot mess and tells me how to fix them. A big thank-you also goes to my editor, Linda Cassidy Lewis, and my bestie, Rebecca, who helped me craft the perfect blurb for this story. Last but not least, I’d like to thank my children for their patience and encouragement.
About the Author
Teresa Roman writes contemporary and paranormal romance for adults and young adults. If it were possible to be born with a book in her hands, that’s how Teresa Roman would’ve entered this world. Her passion for reading is what inspired her to become a writer. She loves the way stories can take you to another time and place.
Born in Romania, Teresa has lived in the Midwest and on both coasts but currently calls Sacramento, California, her home. She lives there with her husband, three adorable children, three cats, and a dog. When she’s not at her day job or running around with her kids, you can find her in the kitchen baking something sinful, in front of the computer writing, or with her head buried in another book.
