Page 41 of Of Curses and Beauty

Alaine waited for her mother to quiet long enough for her to respond and then spoke clearly and calmly. “I am a grown woman. I am old enough to wed and old enough to make my own decisions. I was feeling overwhelmed and went out for some fresh air. That is all you need to know.” Her mother opened her mouth to speak, but Alaine cut her off with a raised hand. “Before you spit any other nonsense, let me remind you that I am marrying a man I hate with every fiber of my being to save this family from financial ruin. The least I deserve is some time to myself before I’m sold off like some breeding mare.”

Turning her back to her mother, who stood open-mouthed and wide-eyed, Alaine climbed the stairs to her bed-chamber, ducking her head to hide the slight upturn of her lips.

When she reached her room, she wasn’t at all shocked to see the witch—Eudora, Daric had called her—waiting for her within. Alaine hastily stepped inside, closing the door behind her before anyone else could see her visitor. Eyeing Eudora from across the room, she crossed her arms and leaned back against the door. She couldn’t be sure that her mother wouldn’t follow her up the stairs and barge in on them.

“What do you want?” Alaine had hoped to have more bite in her voice, but the words came out tired.

Eudora looked her up and down, likely noting her disheveled appearance. “You’ve seen Prince Daric then, I trust?”

Alaine noted the slight changes to the witch’s face, just as Daric had described. Shehadchanged, though whether for good or bad remained to be seen. “I have,” she replied, unwilling to provide too many details. “What business is it of yours?”

“Alaine—”

“Ms. Martan,” Alaine corrected stiffly. Perhaps it was petty, but she found she didn’t care.

Eudora pressed her lips together and exhaled through her nose. “Ms. Martan, you have to know that I desire only to see you and His Highness reunited.”

“Oh, really?” Alaine struggled to keep her voice low, unsure if the room had been spelled. “You keep referring to him asPrinceDaric andHis Highnessand yet,youare the reason he no longer bears that title. You cursed him to centuries of solitude and then cursed me as well. Though you claim to want us together, you tore us apart the very moment I professed my love for him. How am I to believe your good intentions now?”

“You’re right to be angry. I underestimated the power of the magic I used to grant his wish, but I fought against it when I could. I gave him the cottage to care for him when no other could. It was I who returned your beauty to you that night we visited. I brought the man you love across the kingdom—nearly to your doorstep—so that you could fulfill his wish and live happily ever after. What more can I do?”

“Nothing!” Alaine had heard enough. All her life she’d had constant interference from her parents, the townspeople, and now this witch. “I am to marry Lord Baxter at the first snowfall.” The more she said it, the easier it became, her mouth growing used to the bitter taste on her tongue. “My family needs me and I will do as they ask.”

“Alaine—” Eudora reached for her, but Alaine stepped out of reach.

“I think you’ve done enough. Please go.” She motioned toward the door though she was fairly certain the witch hadn’t used it when she arrived.

“Daric’s wish is not the only one that called to me, you know. I answered yours as well that day in the woods.”

“What wish?” Alaine wracked her brain, but couldn’t remember having wished for anything. She was usually so careful not to cast out her hopes.

“As I recall, you wished for another way out of this.”

Alaine waited for more, but the witch only tilted her head and looked at her expectantly. “Well?” she hissed. “Another way out of what?”

Eudora smiled and while there was no malice to it, Alaine saw a hint of the crafty, scheming woman she’d been before. “A way out of whatever you like. That’s the beauty in magic after all. You’ll find the true miracle lies not in what is said, but what remains unspoken.”

With those cryptic words, the witch disappeared, leaving Alaine alone to ponder the power of a wish and the fate of her family.

Chapter 37

Daric

DaricwatchedAlainewalkaway, certain it was the last time he would ever see her. Though he trembled from head to foot, he no longer felt the bite of the winter wind through his dampened clothes. The sun had nearly dipped below the horizon by the time he shook himself free from his numb stupor.

In truth, he didn’t know what to do with himself. He had no plan. He’d been following a star and it had winked out of existence, leaving him adrift in a world about which he knew nothing. Enough had changed in the time he’d been cursed that he barely recognized the land he was meant to rule.

He wondered if he had any living relatives, if they knew of him, or if he’d been erased from his legacy as surely as he had the history books.

Since no coin weighed down his pockets, he had few options open to him. He turned his feet toward Maribonne, hoping to find a barn to spend the night until he could sort himself out. There was always physical work to be done. He could find employment as a laborer, just not here. He planned to get far from Maribonne before he could do something reckless like murdering Alaine’s betrothed.

The sudden bloodlust came as a shock to him. He’d never been a violent man, but something about Alaine marrying that scum made him see red. If she wasn’t so dead set on helping her family, he’d break apart the wedding himself.

He’d barely covered half the distance to the town when he felt a familiar presence at his side. He didn’t need to look to know that Eudora had joined him. It felt odd to be comforted by her presence after dreading it for so long. When he glanced sidelong, he found her already watching him, seeming to gauge his intentions as he stalked toward the town.

“You may rest easy, Eudora. I’ve no plans to kill any lords this evening.”

She blew out a breath as though relieved, but he got the feeling she already knew he wouldn’t come between Alaine and her future husband. Though the thought made him sick, he respected Alaine enough to make her own choices, as poor as they were. He could only do so much to dissuade her and, as he’d said, he had nothing of value to offer.

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