Page 30 of Of Curses and Beauty

He didn’t deny it, his pained expression telling her everything she needed to know.

“She stripped you of your title and trapped you in a secluded cottage in the middle of the forest, then tasked you with finding someone who would fall in love with you?” Her voice grew louder with every word, shouting by the end of her tirade.

Unable to speak about his curse, Daric held up his palms and shrugged as if to say,what can you do?

Alaine was disgusted. That witch had left him with no way to break the curse for over three hundred years until she’d randomly decided to stick her there as well. If that witch ever dared to show her face again, Alaine would have some strong words for her.

“I was going to leave this for you in the library after you’d gone to bed, but seeing as how you’re speaking to me again, I’d really like to see you open it.” He rose and crossed the room to the sofa she no longer frequented. Reaching beneath, he pulled out a small wooden box decorated with inlaid roses and twisting vines. He brought it back to the table, setting it before her reverently.

There was a small brass key protruding from a hole on the side closest to her. Tentatively, Alaine reached out and turned the key. The lid opened with a quietsnickand she lifted it with trembling fingers. Inside was a sheaf of paper, inkwell, and feather quill. She looked at Daric for answers and he laughed gently at her baffled expression.

“You read so much, I wanted you to have a way to tell your own story.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I thought it might help you see your worth if you could view yourself from an outsider’s perspective.”

She brushed her fingers along the side of the box, admiring the contents. Daric was a prince, but somehow he knew the way to her heart could not be paved with gold and jewels. His thoughtfulness made her heart lurch. While she wanted to believe his generosity stemmed from a place of genuine care, she couldn’t shake the feeling that his intentions weren’t true. Perhaps it was the nature of his curse that weighed on her.

“Why did you give me this?” she asked, afraid to know the answer, but not wanting to be kept in the dark any longer.

His brow creased in confusion. “I’ve just told you, I thought it would help you break your curse.”

She searched his eyes for any sign of duplicity, finding none, but remained unable to rid herself of the feeling of unease. “You had no thoughts for your own curse? Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me that you didn’t give me this so that I would fall in love with you?”

He didn’t speak, either because he didn’t want to admit it or because the curse held his tongue. Regardless, she’d successfully reminded herself why she couldn’t let him in. Her heart was on the line. Even more so if she was just a means to an end.

She shut the box, already turning to leave when his approaching footsteps made her pause. With her back to him, she couldn’t see him reach for the box, so she startled when he slid it across the table toward her.

“Please take it. I still want you to have it.”

She made a small noise of protest, opening her mouth to argue, but for once he continued without letting her speak.

“I can’t promise that I didn’t consider your feelings toward me, because a part of me will always hope that you can—“ he choked and she knew it was the curse preventing him from speaking. His roar of frustration startled her, but she kept her body angled away from him.

He blew out a frustrated breath and started again. “I’ll always hope that you can feelsome wayabout me, regardless of whether or not that would free me. But you—you are one of the kindest, smartest, funniest, most selfless people I have ever met and it is so damn frustrating that all you see when you look at yourself is your external beauty.”

She turned at his explosive outburst, shocked at the strength of his speech. She nearly jumped back when she saw how close they were. Now that they faced each other, she had to tilt her chin to see the sincerity blazing in his eyes.

“It’s true that you’re beautiful, but I knew that before the witch returned your face. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you before. I’ll regret it every day for the rest of my life, but please don’t let my mistakes keep you from freeing yourself. You deserve the world, even if I’m not a part of it.”

His fingers brushed hers and she allowed him to take her hand. She expected him to twine their fingers, but instead, he placed her hand over the gift box.

“I hope you learn your value, so that when you are free, you can find a man truly worthy of you.”

As his hand slipped from hers, she had the overwhelming sense that this was a turning point. If she let him walk away, she was saying goodbye to whatever future they might have together. Panic seized her at the thought of losing him forever and she realized that she would take whatever pain the future held if it meant a chance for even a few moments of love with Daric.

She grabbed for his hand, pulling him toward her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted her lips firmly against his. Whatever resistance he had quickly melted away, his arms encircling her and pulling her flush against his hard body. She gasped at the contact, marveling at the way her supple curves melded to his hard planes. Their tender kiss turned heated as he slid his tongue along her bottom lip. All thoughts of curses and witches disappeared as she opened her lips to him. He groaned into her mouth, bringing his hands up to cup her face, thumbs caressing her cheeks.

He pulled away suddenly and she was surprised to find herself gasping for breath. She was grateful for Daric’s hands holding her steady as the world spun around them.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered, his voice thick and gravelly.

“What?” She had trouble processing his words through the haze left behind in the wake of their kiss.

“You’re crying.” He stroked her cheek again and she felt the wetness as he smeared it over her skin.

Alaine didn’t know why was crying except that she was scared and nervous and excited and happy. The multitude of emotions overwhelmed her completely and for a moment, there was nothing she could do but stand in his arms and let the tears flow. He held her through it all, demanding nothing of her as his mere presence soothed her soul.

After several moments, the tears subsided. When she finally opened her mouth to speak, it was to give voice to the truth in heart. “I think I love you.”

His face lit up with joy and then he was gone.

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