Page 29 of Of Curses and Beauty

She collapsed onto one of the plush armchairs, defeated and certain that her thoughts were going in circles.

“Cottage.” She felt the shift in the air as the walls awaited her request. “How can I free him?”

A faint breeze ruffled her hair, though the windows were firmly shut. She got the sense the cottage had just sighed in response to her inquiry, but then she heard a heavy thunk and looked up to see a large, black tome on the table before her. The title gleamed in gold inlay and Alaine rolled her eyes when she read it.

“A History of Love?“ she scoffed. “You don’t have to mock me. I asked for help, not advice.”

She bit back a yelp as a stack of books rained down to land on top of the first.For Love or Death,True Love’s Kiss,Young Love, and on and on, each title containing something related tolove.Plucking one off the top, she fanned through the pages, blowing out a breath as her eyes skimmed the text. Her thumb paused on a page and she read a few lines aloud.

“He looked at her like she was the world, like she was his sun and moon and stars and losing her would mean losing everything.” Alaine’s voice had taken on a wistful quality. It was too much to ask that someone could look at her that way. She’d stopped hoping for the fairytale, but now that she was living some kind of twisted version, she wondered if happily ever after was possible after all. Or was she doomed to live out a vicious cycle of heartache and expectations for the rest of her days?

She made to replace the book on the top of the pile, but thought better of it. Tucking it beneath her arm, she strode out the library door and right into the immovable bulk of Daric.

Daric’s arm shot out to catch her before she could fall. She couldn’t say the same for her book. As it tumbled to the floor, she recalled this same thing happening with Baxter and endeavored to take better care of watching where she was going.

Too soon, Daric’s comforting touch was gone. He never allowed his hand to linger longer than was necessary and she regretted his decency at that moment. Though they bent to retrieve the book at the same time, Daric reached it first, snatching it and holding it up to the light. He squinted as he read the title.

“Hopeless Love?”

Thatwas the title? Her cheeks flamed. Of all the books for the cottage to send her.

“Give that back!” She easily yanked the book from his proffered hand, trying and failing to ignore the smile he fought to hold back. She growled and threw him the meanest look she could muster. “The cottage recommended it.”

“I’m sure it did.” Amusement twinkled in his eyes.

Alaine turned her face away to hide the smile that spread across her lips. He was so infuriatingly charming, it made it hard to deny her budding feelings for him. She fisted her hands in her skirts and redoubled her efforts, walking over to the dining table and sitting in her usual place.

Daric joined her, as he always did, though he’d long since given up attempting to make conversation. She regretted the necessity of it, especially as she took in his resigned expression.

“Dinner, cottage,” said Daric. “If you please.” He’d become far more cordial to the home since she’d commented on his directness. The cottage had become more courteous in return.

They served themselves from the assortment of dishes that appeared on the small table. The clink of cutlery on porcelain was the only sound between them. She didn’t know how Daric felt, but she could sense the tension building between them like an invisible fortress, suffocating her in loneliness.

“I’m sorry,” she said, unable to take the self-imposed silence any longer.

He looked at her, mouth agape and fork paused halfway to his mouth. “For what?”

She shrugged one shoulder, suddenly uncomfortable with his full attention. “For being distant.”

“You owe me no apologies. This,” he gestured around them, “is a lot to take in. You’re entitled to whatever you need to help you process everything. If that means not interacting with me, so be it.” His words were casual enough, but she knew he was hurt by her cold treatment.

“Even so, I’m sorry.”

He waved her off and finally moved his bite to his mouth, but she couldn’t let it go without further explanation.

“When the witch came and things changed, I realized that maybe this isn’t the safe haven I thought it was. I–” she swallowed, trying to push down the nerves suddenly threatening to overwhelm her. “I like you and that scares me.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand to stop him.

“Please, just let me finish.” He nodded and she pressed on, buoyed by his deferment. “You were right when you said I wouldn’t always want to be here. I want to break the curse—both of our curses,” she added. “But if anything happens, and only one of us is freed, I don’t want either of us to feel the hurt of that loss any worse than we have to. I thought keeping you at arm’s length was the best thing for both of us.”

Daric nodded again, looking thoughtful with his chin propped on his fist. “I will always regret not being close to you if the option is available. It’s normal to fear pain, but take it from someone who knows, it’s better to feel the pain of loss than to have never felt the joy of love.”

Her heart stuttered at that word; the one that had been mocking her all day, the one she feared more than pain, though they seemed destined to coincide. She thought of the way Daric made her feel. The way her breath caught when his skin brushed hers. The way he made her laugh so effortlessly. The way he actually listened when she spoke. He made her feel valued, cherished, and, yes, even loved—but she couldn’t accept that it was that simple.

She thought back to his actions, his words, and her eyes widened as she made connections she’d never considered before.

“Your curse,” she whispered, but Daric tensed at the words nonetheless. “Am I supposed to fall in love with you?”

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