Page 69 of The Prince's Curse

“Benjin?” Haldric mouthed. Though the rushing whirlwind drowned out the sound, Benjin read his name on his lover’s lips as their eyes met.

“Get away!” the Grand Magus screamed, barely audible over the rushing magic. “Your very presence could disrupt the ritual!”

Benjin spared him a disparaging glance. “Then stop the ritual!” he shouted back.

“It’s too late for that! The magic is too far advanced!”

Benjin gritted his teeth. If the ritual couldn’t be stopped, then perhaps he could at least save Haldric from its grip.

Ignoring the Grand Magus’ continued shouts, Benjin shoved through the whirlwind toward Haldric at the spell’s center. Eachstep became an ever-greater challenge, the force of the swirling magic pressing him back.

“What are you doing here?” Haldric demanded as Benjin drew closer. “Dexil said you were away on a mission.”

Benjin managed a strained smirk. “If you really think I’d leave you without saying goodbye, then you’re even dumber than you look, Your Highness.”

Haldric stared at him for a long moment before breaking out into a wide grin. “It’s good to see you. I was looking everywhere for you.” His smile dimmed, his gaze flicking to the Grand Magus. “But Dexil’s right. You need to get out of here.”

Benjin considered confessing everything, telling Haldric the full extent of Dexil’s duplicity. But there wasn’t time, not with the runeflame roiling around them. At any moment, the spell might complete and wipe Haldric’s memories. They could discuss what to do with the Grand Magus later. First, Benjin had to save Haldric from himself.

“You can’t go through with this!” Benjin said. “Think about the future of the kingdom.”

“Iam, Benjin.” Tears stood out in Haldric’s eyes. “That is precisely why I must do this. I cannot allow myself to become king. Ilthabard’s people deserve better.”

“Thereisno one better!” Benjin forced himself another step closer.

Their cloaks and hair billowed about them, the waves of runeflame drowning out all else until the world shrank to just the two of them.

“You think that any of the governors would do more for the people?” Benjin scoffed as he took another step. “That they could even hold Ilthabard together?” Step. “The Grand Magus isusingyou! Hewantsthe people to revolt.”

“Well, maybe they should!” Haldric shouted back. “It’s not as if they can do a worse job than us nobles have.”

Benjin clenched his jaw, hardly able to believe what he was about to say. Still, he reluctantly forced the words out. “I can’t deny that there are many rotten among the nobility. But in my time here at the palace, I’ve learned that there are good people, too, people in need of guidance.Yourguidance. You have the potential to make a real difference, Hal. To bridge the divide and stop the kingdom from tearing itself apart.”

“I…” Haldric’s face was an agony of indecision, his eyes wide and terrified. “I wish I could believe that.”

Benjin took another step. They now stood almost close enough to touch, a mere handful of paces separating them. Runeflame cascaded around them in a silver and blue torrent.

“What about me?” Benjin asked quietly. “What about us?”

Haldric paled, his green eyes widening. For a moment, he looked ready to fling himself forward into Benjin’s arms. Then, he set his jaw, his expression hardening.

“There is nous!”The words tore through Benjin like jagged blades. “Even if I stayed here, I’d need to focus on my duties. On my betrothal.”

Benjin staggered a step back, wetness pricking his eyes. He reached up, angrily scrubbing the tears away.

“There, you see?” The Grand Magus’ voice carried to them from a distance, though his form was lost to the storm. “As I told you before, this is for the best. Step aside, Benjin, and let the spell run its course.”

Staring at Haldric’s downturned gaze and slumped shoulders, Benjin considered it. It would be so easy to retreat—to let the arrogant prince rewrite his memories and renege on his responsibilities. Instead of defying the Grand Magus, Benjin could help him, aiding in his grand revolution. Like Dexil himself, he could devote himself to making Ilthabard a better place, free of the kinds of people that had cast him and his mom out, or those who had taken Dexil’s parents from him.

He could let Haldric do as he wanted, the pieces falling as they willed.

He almost did it, was already preparing to turn away and retreat, when Haldric met his gaze one last time. The look on the prince’s face froze Benjin in place.

What he saw there wasn’t the face of conviction—of a man certain in his decisions. Nor was it the careful mask Haldric so often presented to the world. Instead, it was the shattered face of a scared little boy. Terror shone from his drawn expression. Tears brimmed in his wide, lost eyes. And in that instant, Benjin realized an irrefutable truth.

Haldric doesn’t want this any more than I do.

Hurling himself forward, Benjin grabbed Haldric’s arm, yanking him away from the heart of the whirlwind.

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