Page 45 of Of Curses and Beauty

The witch’s fiery red hair stood out in stark contrast to the white-washed world around them. Alaine stood too far away to hear their words or read the expressions on their faces, but when Daric leaned in close, they looked for all the world like a young couple in love. Her heart seized at the sight. Though she no longer had any claim to him, in fact, she hoped that he would find happiness after everything, it caused her physical pain to see him with another. Never mind that it was the very witch who claimed to be helping them.

Alaine’s blood boiled. She swore she saw snowflakes turn to steam as they touched her skin. Half of her wanted to sink back into the shadows, but the other half—the half currently in control—demanded she march over and confront them.

Daric saw her coming before she’d taken two steps toward them. His eyes widened at her approach, causing Eudora to whip her head towards Alaine as well. Their faces quickly turned guarded as she neared them and she donned a mask of cool apathy in response.

“Fancy seeing you here together,” she said looking pointedly between the pair, “and on my wedding day, no less.”

Daric winced at the mention of her upcoming nuptials and Alaine felt her teeth clench in irritation. How dare he parade aroundhertown with another woman and have the nerve to react to her impending coupling. Clearly, he’d moved on just fine in a matter of days.

“Alaine,” Daric seemed at a loss for words, his eyes roving over her from head to toe. “You look beautiful.”

She gave him a flat stare in return. “Yes, I know.” She couldn’t stop the fire that spewed from her mouth. Of all the things to say, those three words held the least meaning to her. All her life she’d been told the same thing over and over again—you are beautiful—and look where it had gotten her. “You two look cozy.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” asked Eudora, a crease forming between her brows.

Alaine crossed her arms, cocking her hip to the side as raised a single brow in question. “Don’t insult me. You think I don’t see what’s going on here?”

Daric shared an exasperated look with Eudora and ran his hands through his hair. “It’s not like that, Alaine. I know you’re hurting right now, but we don’t deserve to be the focus of your anger.”

“Oh, really? She served no part in this? Is that what you’re telling me?” Alaine scoffed. “What are you even doing here? I thought you’d be long gone by now.”

“Alaine—Ms. Martan,” Eudora corrected herself at Alaine’s icy stare, “we are here to help. We’ll figure out a way to get you out of this.”

“There is no way out!” Alaine cried, choking back a sob that verged on hysteria. She looked at Daric, grim determination painting his features. “Don’t you see? I wondered how life could be so perfect under a supposed curse, but I was wrong.Thisis the curse.” Her arms flailed about in an effort to fully encompass everything wrong with her life. “And there’s no undoing it. Not for lack of trying.”

Alaine felt her nausea return as Daric shared another glance with Eudora, who nodded once, then stepped away to afford them some measure of privacy.

Daric inched closer to her, hand outstretched as if to clasp hers. Alaine pulled away, regretting the action immediately as a flash of hurt crossed his face.

“Someone might see,” she murmured by way of explanation.

He blew out a breath, the air condensing into a puff of smoke between them. “I saw him, the man you are to marry, and I promise I will do all in my power to make sure you never wed the likes of him. He is a disease among men—one that should be eradicated—not someone to be revered.”

All this she knew, but it didn’t change the fact that she had no other options.

He must have read the surrender on her face. “I may not have much to give, but you need only ask it of me and it is yours. You told me that you would choose me if you could. Alaine, I choose you. I will always choose you. I love you and, if you’ll have me, I will marry you. You are my queen, the one I yearned for—skies, the one I cursed myself for. We shall rule over nothing but our own lives and that will be enough.Youare enough. Don’t give up on us.”

Alaine had never longed for love, at least not aloud. She knew better than to wish for the secret desire that lingered in the dark recesses of her heart, but Daric’s words sparked a flame of hope in her chest.

“I apologize for how I spoke.” She caught Eudora’s eye as she cautiously rejoined their space. “I’m just so scared.” A laugh bubbled out of her, but it morphed into a sob that wracked her body. She pressed a fist to her chest, forcing her emotions back into the tiny box she kept within.

“I don’t think I actually believed this day would come. It’s like a nightmare. I keep pinching myself, thinking I’ll wake up back at the cottage in our own little world.” Her mouth pulled up on one side, the closest thing to a smile she could manage. She hugged her arms around herself and blinked up at the sky, expelling a large breath as she tried to keep the tears at bay.

Gentle, but sure arms wrapped around her in a comforting embrace and she looked down to find Eudora. Alaine searched her face, finding no trace of judgment. A few paces away, Daric clenched and unclenched his hands, no doubt battling his own desire to pull her to him.

Alaine considered herself lucky to have known both of them. For whatever direction life pulled her, she was glad to have two people who saw her true self and didn’t shy away from her flaws. She rolled her eyes but waved for Daric to join them. Within moments, Eudora and Alaine were engulfed in his strong arms.

Though the inauspicious snow continued to fall around them, Alaine reveled in how it felt to love and be loved in return.

Chapter 39

Daric

TearsstreakedAlaine’spaintedface when they finally pulled apart. Though he’d meant it when he told her she looked beautiful, he could see the cracks in her armor, the cosmetics doing little to hide the haunted look in her eyes. And to think, it was all for that bastard, Baxter. Daric’s teeth ground together just thinking about him. At that moment, he’d do anything to take down her hair and wash her face—to see the real Alaine beneath the mask.

Alaine apologized again to Eudora, who waved her off with the kind of nonchalance one only achieved after centuries alive.

“There is always hope,” said Eudora with more certainty than he possessed. “We are trying.”

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