Page 61 of Kissed By Songs of Lilies

"If only your people had shown me such courtesy."

"Please," I begged, hating the sound of my own desperation. "Please. Don’t do this."

She turned slowly to look down at me. "You can break your curse, but I doubt someone like you ever will."

And that was how she left us.

I never saw her again.

She died days later–from a fever or broken heart, I was never sure which.

I was pulled from the old memories by Georgia’s insistent voice, "Forrest," she snapped. "Can’t you consult another witch?"

"I’ve consulted scores already. They say my best chance is to have someone of the bloodline lift the curse or to marry within the bloodline."

"Then we must marry," she said simply.

I studied her face, trying to get a read on her. Was she angry? Was she upset? I could tell she wasn’t happy. "I’m sorry," I said.

She was rigid, icy, and beautiful. For the first time since I had known her, she reminded me of my own people.

Finally, she said in a clipped tone, "I always knew I would marry for my kingdom and that I would have little say in the matter."

I reached out to grasp her hands, but she placed them in her lap.

"You will always have a say with me," I insisted.

"How can I? My kingdom stands in the balance. We must marry."

I had called her little sparrow since I had first met her, a joke because she had seemed so caged in the human world. I had longed to see her spread her wings and fly, to be the beautiful, wild thing I knew she was. Now, I was the one clipping her wings.

I felt sick.

After a long pause, I said, "I’m sorry. I thought we… well, it doesn’t matter what I thought… If you do not desire me, then I ask you only to go through the motions of a formal courtship and marriage ceremony. That may be enough to end this curse once and for all."

She bit her lip, listening to my proposal in earnest this time.

"At my full power, I can protect both of our kingdoms, and you can return home... if you wish."

I wouldn't mind if you stayed, I thought hopelessly.

"I will do as you ask, but only if you grant me one boon," she said formally.

Her words stung. "Georgia, you don’t need a bargain to ask me for a favor. I would gladly grant you nearly anything."

She put her hands on her hips. "And you do not need a bargain to force my hand in marriage, but here we are."

I sighed and nodded in acknowledgment. "And your request?"

"I want to see my sister."

My anxiety spiked. The one thing I could not do was take her to her older sister. It would be my ruin. So, I said, "I prefer to leave the past in the past."

She let out a soft growl, but then schooled her features back to that icy sheet of neutral. "I am speaking of my younger sister. Her sixteenth birthday is next weekend."

"And if I do this, you will walk through all of the formal wedding related events and act the part?" I asked. I didn’t want to press, but I had to. This was a bargain. It was soul binding. I couldn’t take it lightly even if I wanted to pull down the moon and stars and hand them to her.

She nodded tersely. "You have my word."

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