Page 16 of Of Curses and Beauty

She fumed at the reminder of their spat, hoping things could return to the way they’d been before he’d suggested she leave. She had quickly come around to the idea of spending the rest of her life here. She just neededhimto feel the same way. Otherwise, she was no better than an intruder.

In the time it took to finish her meal, Daric’s focus never wavered from the object in his hands. Curiosity piqued, Alaine figured she’d indulged in self-pity long enough and decided to join him in the garden.

From the cover of the cottage, she’d failed to notice the foreboding cast of clouds that hovered overhead. The wind had picked up as well, bringing with it a chill that whispered of the coming frost. Thinking of winter brought to mind her parents back home and the debt that hung over their heads. She didn’t know what they would do without her there to marry Baxter, but at the moment she was still too vexed to care. They had at least a month before the first snowfall, even longer until the debt was due. That should be plenty of time to come up with the money needed, or to find evidence of Baxter’s lies.

She shook her head to clear the unwanted thoughts. If her family could sell her off to Baxter so easily, she couldn’t be blamed for seeking a different path in life. She hadn’t made the choice to be here, but she was making the choice to stay, though her family’s fate weighed on her conscience still.

She shivered as she picked her way through the high grass to Daric, pausing when she caught sight of the wicked blade in his hands. She couldn’t see what he was doing with it, only the surety with which he handled it.

Butterflies awoke in her belly and with them came the memory of rough hands on tender flesh. There was always that undercurrent of fear, of knowing he could hurt her if he chose. He had yet to show any sign of aggression, even when they’d argued, but she’d seen firsthand the speed at which a man’s temperament could change.

“Alaine.”

The sound of her name had her blinking away darker thoughts. Daric was staring at her expectantly and she suspected he’d been trying to coax her from her brooding for some time.

“Sorry.” She shrugged. “It seems my mind was elsewhere.”

Daric pursed his lips but didn’t remark further. For a moment, their gazes held. No words passed between them, but she could read those left unsaid in his eyes. He wouldn’t apologize, and neither would she, but it was behind them. They had too many tomorrows ahead of them to fret about yesterday.

Alaine nodded tentatively toward the object in his hands. “What are you working on?” It was an olive branch, a peace offering. She was willing to move on if he was.

Daric held the object aloft and she approached warily. Their hands met as he deposited it into her palm. A small thrill ran through her at the contact, distracting her from the nerves that plagued her. He pulled back first, glancing away as though self-conscious.

“It’s a gift,” he said as she turned it over in her hands.

She couldn’t believe what she beheld. The rose was like nothing she’d ever seen. Intricately carved from wood, the delicate details made it look as though it had been plucked from the bush itself.

“You made this?” she asked incredulously.

He tipped his chin down and she could have sworn she saw the hint of a blush before he ran his hand over his face. “I know that when you mess up, you’re supposed to give a girl flowers, but you seem like the kind of person who’d appreciate something handmade. So, I did both.”

“It’s fitting, I suppose, to receive an immortal rose from an immortal man.”

He winced at the mention of his immortality. “Do you like it?”

Alaine couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “I love it,” she said.

Daric’s answering smile crinkled the edges of his eyes. He stood up and clasped her free hand in both of his. “I want you to stay.”

The sincerity in his voice almost brought her to tears, but she fought the emotion swelling in her chest and responded truthfully. “That’s good, because I want to stay.”

Chapter 14

Daric

Alainestaredathimlike he’d given her a puppy. He could tell she was on the verge of tears as she cradled the wooden rose in her hand. He hoped they were happy tears after he’d botched his attempt at an apology. He’d spent all morning rehearsing what he would say, only to have the words fly from his mind the moment he set eyes on her in that black dress.

It wasn’t even the dress so much as the way she wore it. Her shoulders were back and her head held high, though her chin dipped just slightly in a manner that dared anyone to question her. She was magnificent. In that moment, he saw a queen, and the prince in him damned every obstacle that stood in the way of making her his.

He still struggled with her decision to stay, but at the end of the day, it washerdecision and he would not try to voice his thoughts on the topic again. Looking at her now, she seemed happy enough with her choice that it eased some of his gnawing doubts.

The sky chose that moment to open up, unleashing the pouring rain that had been threatening all morning. Alaine squealed as the first cool drops hit her skin and sprinted for the door. He followed close behind, his long strides quickly making up the distance between them so he was there to catch her as she slipped. It was the second time they had touched that day and both times had sent a shock through him, like the spark between them was trying to restart his heart.

With the excuse of the rain-slicked ground, he kept hold of her as she found her footing, taking her hand and guiding her through the deluge.

Her fingers looked delicate next to his, but she gripped his hand with a ferocity that belied her softness. When they reached the cover of the thatched overhang, he finally relinquished his hold, immediately missing the gentle warmth of her skin.

Alaine slipped inside the cottage as he held the door open. He shook himself off, dispelling as much water as he could before joining her. She stood just inside the door, toweling herself off. He wondered if she’d asked for the towels or if the cottage had simply anticipated their need. The magic was curious like that. She handed him a second towel as he entered, but it hung limply from his hand as he openly gaped at Alaine’s appearance.

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