Page 84 of A Cursed Son

“I never left. But you…” I look around, searching for a sign that something’s amiss, but it’s just the kitchen in the island house. “Is this real?”

He bows. “I’m honored to be back at your service. You saved my life.”

I don’t think I did anything special, but I don’t want to say that and dismiss his gratitude. What I don’t understand is how Nelsin is here. “Did Marlak change his mind?”

Nelsin sighs. “Yes, even if what I did is unforgivable.”

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

He looks at me. “And we learn from them. I want to do my job right this time, and I think our prince understood that.”

So Marlak can be persuaded. Interesting. And now I have someone who trusts me working for him. These are incredible developments, not to mention that I’m happy that Nelsin is here. And I have another question.

“I… was someone giving me hot soup, or was I dreaming?”

Nelsin chuckles. “I brought it. Rushed here with the hot container. I knew it would help you heal. Seems like it did!”

“Thanks!” I am so relieved to see him, to know that he’s alive, that he’s here. I approach him and wrap my arms around him.

Nelsin returns the gesture in a warm, friendly hug, perhaps the kind of hug I’ve been missing since I left the tower.

“Incredible.” Marlak’s voice cuts like a blade, and I let go of the knight and turn to my husband. He’s glaring at us.“You thank not the person who saved you, but the one who put you in danger.”

I open my arms. “Do you want a hug?”

“I want nothing from you,” he snaps.

If there was any doubt, now I’m sure this is not a dream. “Then what’s your problem?”

He pulls a chair, making it screech against the ground as if it’s screaming, then sits. “You slept for more than a day. You could have died.” He spits those last words with so much anger he almost growls.

I barely see Nelsin walking away, and I’m not sure I like the way Marlak treats his knights, who have to scurry away like mice.

Still, I sit across from my husband. “You sure sound happy I’m alive.”

“Then you misunderstand me. I’m not happy at all that you were in danger. I’m not happy at all that my orders were defied. But hey, go ahead.” He waves a hand. “Embrace him.”

Oh, it’s all about pride, then. “Do you have friends, husband? People to hug you?” I don’t know why I’m unwilling to measure my words, and why I’m saying that. It’s not like I have a ton of friends either.

He leans over. “Hugs are for children.”

I’m not sure if he expects a reply to that, and I don’t know what to say.

The truth is that I didn’t get hugs from loving parents as a child, and for some reason the thought stings, but then I had my sisters. Marlak probably had a happy childhood, which only makes all that happened even more horrific.

I wish I had brought a cup, a plate, an apple, something to occupy my hands, rather than having just this empty table between us.

He points at the hallway where Nelsin went. “He’s back because you saved his life, and he’ll be loyal to you, and that’s useful to me. Not because you asked. But he shouldn’t—” He pauses, his chest moving up and down in a deep breath, then he looks at me. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. Normal. Hungry.” As if replying to this last point, my stomach growls.

Marlak gets up and walks to his cupboard, speaking while giving his back to me. “This should never have happened.” He points to the rooms again. “I still don’t trust him.” He then takes the jug of milk and the two cups and brings them to the table.

I look at him, so good looking, so intimidating, and yet so normal in our daily routine. When you become my wife in earnest. His words echo in my mind.

Would I want to become his wife for real? Would I want to kiss him on a morning like this? Spend the nights together, making those dreams come true? There’s air in my stomach, air as if he was working some magic in it, making it spin and spin and spin. My head spins too, and I don’t understand what I feel, if it’s fear, yearning, horror, shame.

Could I turn my back to Otavio, to Krastel, to my sisters? Would I be happy with Marlak? Would he eventually hurt me? Would he mock me if I showed any feelings for him?

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