His smile widened. “I think there is a way. Since you’ve promised me love, wealth, and happiness, would you consider being a godmother to my children one day? I could think of no one better.”
She smiled back. “It would be my honor.”
“Thank you. And, as I told Damian, you are always welcome in my home.”
“How could I refuse the offer of Count Stefan, twice blest?” Adela gave a quick laugh.
Stefan joined in her laughter, then took her hand and kissed it. He strode away. Captain Cyryl nodded respectfully to Adela from across the clearing. She bowed her head in return and sent a single rose budding from the ground at his feet. Cyryl picked it and, as he watched, it turned to glass. His eyes widened in wonder, and Adela smiled. He placed it carefully inside his tunic before mounting and following Stefan from the clearing.
All the other faeries had left, but Estera and Lidia waited for her. As the sun began to set, they made their way back to the mountain at an unhurried pace, comfortably silent in one another’s company. The birds sang one last song as they passed under the trees.
She paused before entering the mountain, looking back in faint hope that she might see Damian. Her heart had broken at the way his face twisted in fear during the trial. She’d missed his presence during the previous days. She just wanted to hear his voice, look up into his hazel eyes, and tell him that she’d never doubted his intentions. But he made no appearance and at last, she allowed Lidia to guide her inside.
Later as Adela lay down to sleep that night, the stars seemed to shine even brighter for her.
But she still thought of Damian.
Chapter 12
The next day, Adela returned to the forest to resume her work that had been neglected for so long. The trees and undergrowth had tangled in her absence. She slowly moved through her territory, clearing out the knotted foliage and sorting out what needed her magic the most to grow and blossom.
Animals greeted her, and the trees and plants stretched out to brush at her as she passed. She spread her wings and spent all day in the sunlight. Her heart reveled in the crisp freshness that wound through the air, promising autumn was on its way
Adela spent day after day in the forest, marveling in her freedom and the changing beauty of the woods. It was perfect, except for one thing.
She had not seen Damian since the trial.
She heard talk that the king had allowed him to tend to the animals in the forest again. Faeries spoke in hushed whispers about him. It still angered Adela that they thought he would turn evil. After sharing a bond with him and seeing only his kind goodness, she knew he never would. She wanted to find him but he didn’t want to be seen. Even Rafael hardly saw him anymore. Felix seemed to know where he was but would tell no one.
One day as Adela walked with no particular purpose, her feet guided her to an unfamiliar part of the forest. The raucous chattering of a squirrel caught her attention and she spotted the dull glimmer of brown wings through the trees.
Damian?
She stayed still and watched for a long moment, then crept forward, peeking around a tree trunk. A fox and the red squirrel darted through the undergrowth, taking turns chasing each other. Damian sat on a stump, staring down at his hands. His sword lay forgotten beside him.
Adela’s heart turned at the sight. This Damian looked nothing like the confident faery she’d come to know. And love. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. He rose quickly when he saw her and half turned away.
“Damian?” she began. “I—I’ve been wanting to see you.”
He said nothing in reply.
He just looked down again.
She took another few steps forward, willing him to look at her. Hoping he would listen to what she needed to say. Everything that she’d been thinking and wishing for since the trial came out in a rush.
“I don’t believe anything that’s being said. I don’t believe that you would turn! You saved my life, Damian. And—and I love you.”
He finally turned to look at her, exposing the scars that marred his face. Fear and doubt clouded his expression.
More words burst from her. “I don’t care what you look like now. Every time I see your scars I remember what you did for me, and how you almost died.”
She willed him to say something.
“Adela, I—Ever since I woke up, I’ve felt different,” he admitted. “Like maybe there is a darkness inside me, just waiting. It frightens me and I don’t know what to do.”
She closed the last of the distance between them. “There’s no evil in you. We were bound together, remember? I know that there is only goodness inside you.”
“But how do you know now?”
He would have turned away, but Adela caught his hand and kissed him.
“That’s how I know,” she whispered.
She reached up touched his scarred face. He leaned into her touch and took her hand. He kissed her again, then pulled her into a tight embrace.
“I love you,” he whispered and the darkness faded.
Epilogue
That is the tale that has been handed down in my family for generations. Of course, Rafael and Lydia were married and fought and laughed their way to the stars. Damian and Adela also wed and in time became lauded with the great faeries. Count Stefan took control of Marek’s lands and according to Adela’s blessing, found a woman named Irena to love and marry. Damian and Adela were present at the births of Stefan and Irena’s children. They gave each child a blessing and a promise that a faery would always watch over them.
Then wars troubled the mortals’ lands. Count Stefan rose up and united them. He was named as the first king of Myrnius, and he ruled long and well. But that was long ago, and my ancestor’s lands have since fallen into decay. The faeries have not been seen in these parts for many long years, and indeed, many doubt their existence. But the forest still stands, and the mountains remain. As I sit among the ruins of my forefathers’ castle, I hear a voice whisper a blessing through the wind. One day the lands will be restored, and though Damian and Adela have passed to the stars, their children remain to watch over Myrnius.
The Wolf Prince
The Faeries of Myrnius Book 2
Coming Soon!
Prince Killian had always known he was cursed. He could hear the wolves howling, and knew they were calling to him…
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I can’t write this page without trying to express my gratitude to my family for the constant support they have shown me. Even when I kill off characters.
To my sister Jocelyn who finally succumbed to my persistence and produced the original cover art. You can’t get out of illustrating the rest of the series.
To Mary Kaylyn Miller for assisting her in said project. I know I’m needy when it comes to artwork for my books.
To Janeen Ippolito who was an amazing editor and helped refresh this story and make it shine in this second edition.
And thanks to you, Reader, for getting this far in the book. I hope you enjoyed it.
About the Author
Claire M. Banschbach is a native West Texan. She discovered a deep and abiding love for fantasy and science fiction at a young age, prompting her to begin exploring worlds as a teen armed only with an overactive imagination and a pen. She's an overall dork, pizza addict, and fangirl. She enjoys meshing stories of family and faith with healthy doses of action and adventure. She talks to fictional characters more than she should while trying to find time for all their stories.
She currently resides in Arlington, TX where she works as a Pediatric Physical Therapist.
You can find out more about her and discover short stories, writing updates, and a fun mailing list on her blog clairembanschbach.wordpress.com.
She loves to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter where you can find dorky life and writing updates.
Twitter: ClaireMB_Author
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Adela's Curse Page 11
