Page 9 of Christmas with a Cursed Werewolf

As I finally set the candlestick down, its warmth lingers in my fingers. The library's shadows lengthen with the setting sun, but I'm no longer afraid of what lurks in the dark. Something has changed inside me—or perhaps it was always there, waiting to be awakened.

I gather my courage and my curiosity around me like armor. Whatever price these answers demand, I'm ready to pay it. After all, the most important stories are never free.

A Kiss of Magic

RONAN

The scent of her lingers in the library, mixing with old leather and parchment. I track it without meaning to, my senses heightening as I follow her trail through the stacks. She's been here recently—too recently. The curse pulses beneath my skin, a warning I choose to ignore.

Briar stands near one of the tall windows, winter light catching in her auburn hair. She's holding an ancient tome, one that should be locked away. Her fingers trace symbols on its spine that no ordinary person should be able to see. The sight sends ice through my veins.

"I told you the library was forbidden." My voice comes out rougher than intended, tension coiling in my chest. She startles but doesn't drop the book. Doesn't back away.

"Actually," she says, turning to face me with that stubborn lift of her chin, "you said the West Wing was forbidden. The library wasn't specifically mentioned."

The curse writhes under my skin, responding to her defiance—or perhaps to something else. The air grows thick with magic, making the flames in the wall sconces dance. "You shouldn't be here."

"Why?" She takes a step closer, and the magic pulses stronger. "Because I might discover what you're hiding? What this castle is hiding?"

Books shudder on their shelves, responding to my darkening mood. Or perhaps to her presence—it's becoming harder to tell the difference. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."

"Then tell me." Another step closer. The scent of lavender and old books fills my lungs. "The symbols in these books, the way the castle reacts—none of this is normal. And you know why."

I grip the edge of a nearby shelf, wood creaking under my fingers. "Knowledge has a price here. One you're not prepared to pay."

"Shouldn't that be my choice?"

The question hangs between us, heavy with implications. She's still holding that damned book, her fingers absently tracing patterns that make my wolf stir restlessly. The curse recognizes something in her—a potential I've been trying to ignore.

"No." I move to take the book, but she steps back, keeping it just out of reach. The motion brings her closer to the window, backlighting her in the fading daylight. For a moment, she looks otherworldly—as if the castle's magic has wrapped itself around her like a cloak.

"I'm not leaving until you explain." Her voice stays steady, though her heart races. I can hear each beat, smell the adrenaline mixing with her natural scent. "The symbols, the magic, the way everything feels alive?—"

"Enough." The word comes out as almost a growl. The temperature drops several degrees, and frost patterns spread across the nearest window. Above us, the chandeliers sway without a breeze.

She doesn't flinch. If anything, her eyes brighten with fascination as she watches the magic manifest. "See? Even now, the castle is responding. Why? What's really going on here?"

I should throw her out. Should call Alistair to escort her from the premises. Instead, I find myself drawn closer, like a moth to flame. The curse hums through my blood, a warning and an enticement all at once.

"You need to leave." But even as I say it, I'm moving toward her. The library's magic swells around us, books rustling on their shelves like leaves in a storm. "Before?—"

"Before what?" She meets my gaze directly, green eyes bright with challenge. "Before I learn too much? Before I figure out why I was really invited here?"

The question hits too close to home. I reach for the book again, and this time our hands brush. Energy crackles between us, sharp and electric. The contact sends a jolt through my entire body, making the wolf surge closer to the surface.

Briar gasps, but doesn't pull away. Her fingers are warm where they touch mine, and the sensation spreads up my arm like wildfire. The book falls forgotten as we stare at each other, the air growing thick with possibility.

"This is dangerous," I manage, though I can't seem to step back. The library's magic pulses around us, stronger than I've felt it in years. Books glow faintly on their shelves, and the shadows in the corners deepen.

"Everything about this place is dangerous." Her voice has gone soft, but there's steel beneath the velvet. "That doesn't mean we should ignore it."

She's too close. The scent of her fills my lungs, making it hard to think. The curse writhes beneath my skin, demanding I either claim her or push her away. There is no safe middle ground.

"You don't understand what you're asking." My control slips further with each passing second. "What could happen if?—"

Her hand lifts to my face, fingers barely brushing my jaw. The touch sends another shock through me, and the magic in the room flares in response. "Then help me understand."

Something breaks inside me. All the careful walls I've built, all the distance I've maintained—it crumbles in an instant. I pull her closer, one hand tangling in her hair as my mouth crashes down on hers.

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