Page 6 of The Curse Between Us

The brief moment of camaraderie was broken by Alec clearing his throat. Edric turned to face his brother, sensing the tension that suddenly coiled in the air. Alec’s posture had changed, and Edric immediately knew that his brother was about to present something he wouldn't like.

"Of course," Alec said slowly, his voice measured, "there is one other thing that would go a long way in ensuring acceptance of the treaty."

Edric raised an eyebrow, already dreading what was to come. "Like a sacred vow?" he asked, his voice laced with a note of skepticism. He turned toward Zephyr, who now wore a similarly puzzled expression. "Yes, we could certainly have a priestess witness the signing, if you think it would be beneficial."

Herbert grimaced at the suggestion, his fingers drumming against the desk in a rhythmic, impatient motion. "That isn’t exactly what Alec was referring to," he said, his tone turning a little sharper. He folded his hands neatly on the tablebefore him and looked at Edric with a knowing expression. "A sacred vow, yes, but of a very specific type."

Zephyr’s eyes widened, and Edric could feel his pulse quicken in anticipation. "What do you mean?" Edric asked, his voice betraying a hint of confusion.

It was Alec who answered this time, his voice soft but firm. "Marriage, Edric. We mean a marriage vow."

Edric’s mouth fell open, but no words came out. The suggestion, though entirely practical in the context of political alliances, was something he had never anticipated. His mind raced as he glanced at Zephyr, who seemed just as taken aback as he was, though—Edric noted with some relief—not displeased.

Still, a thought bubbled up in Edric’s mind, and he voiced it without thinking. "You forget, Alec, that Marsh and I have a long-standing arrangement in place."

Alec shrugged, an offhand gesture that seemed almost dismissive. It struck a chord with Edric, and he glared at his brother, his irritation rising. "We’ll talk to him. Marsh knows his duty, and he will do what’s best for the kingdom."

Edric’s frustration flared. "Are you saying that I won’t?" His voice was low, but the sharpness of it was unmistakable. "I have a duty to the kingdom, but I also have my own honour to protect."

Alec’s expression hardened. "There was never any formal declaration," he said with a shrug, his tone growing sharper. "And Edric, you can’t pretend that you and Marsh share some grand romance. His family is well-situated, influential. An alliance between you was always going to be political, pragmatic. This,"—he waved a hand toward Zephyr—"is far more practical."

The cold logic of Alec’s words stung, and Edric felt the sharpness of them cut through his chest. He opened his mouthto retort, but before he could speak, Zephyr broke the silence. "Might Prince Edric and I have a moment alone?"

Alec and Herbert exchanged a glance, one that spoke volumes, but they both rose from their seats. "We’ll be just next door," Herbert said with a curt nod. "Please, my lords, remember that this is not merely about you. The future of two kingdoms depends upon this treaty." With that, Alec gave Edric one last wary look before exiting the room, leaving the two princes alone.

The door clicked shut behind them, and Edric found himself facing Zephyr, his heart beating uncomfortably fast. He swallowed roughly, unsure of what to say. The room felt suddenly small and intimate.

Fortunately, Zephyr spared him the need to break the silence. "Who is Marsh?" he asked, his voice neutral, but his eyes curious.

Edric winced, knowing he owed Zephyr an explanation. "One of the royal guards," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "And a good friend."

Zephyr nodded slowly, but his gaze remained distant. "You said there was an understanding between you," he continued. "Do you love him?"

The question, blunt and direct, would have caught Edric off guard had it come from anyone else. But with Zephyr, it seemed strangely disarming. Edric hesitated, then answered with a quiet honesty. "No. I care for him, and as I said, he’s a good friend. But Alec was right. The proposed alliance was always more political in nature. And it has never been made formal."

"So there would be no broken hearts, nor broken words, if you were to end it?" Zephyr pressed.

"No," Edric confirmed, feeling a weight lift from his chest. "It’s not like that."

There was a moment of silence, and then Edric found the courage to ask the question that had been nagging at him. "And you?" he said, his voice quiet but probing. "Do you have an intended, back home in Eskarven?"

Zephyr’s eyes flickered, and he took a deep breath before answering. "No," he said softly. "There have been discussions, of course, but Hadden was unwilling to entertain any of them seriously. I believe..." His voice trailed off for a moment, and Edric saw him swallow hard. "He thought himself invincible, and so the matter of succession never interested him much."

Edric nodded, processing Zephyr’s words, then raised an eyebrow at him. "So. Is this something you would suffer, for the sake of your kingdom?"

To his surprise, a flush crept onto Zephyr’s cheeks, coloring them a shade deeper than Edric would have expected from someone who came from the frigid lands of Eskarven. Slowly, Zephyr’s gaze swept over Edric, his dark lashes fluttering. "I do not believe I would need to suffer," he said, his voice a soft murmur.

Edric’s heart raced at the implication, but he pushed the feeling aside. He had a more pressing concern. "Would they see it as an insult?" he wondered aloud, his mind spinning. "The two of us marrying, when for so long we have been enemies?"

Zephyr shrugged, his movements graceful and fluid. It drew Edric’s attention to the breadth of his shoulders beneath the thin fabric of his shirt, and Edric found his thoughts momentarily distracted. "Our kingdoms have been enemies," Zephyr corrected. "You and I have not."

Edric couldn’t help but laugh, the sound escaping him before he could stop it. The seriousness of the situation wasn’t lost on him, but somehow, in this moment, it felt almost absurd. "True," he conceded, his lips twitching into a smile. "But we know nothing about each other. We’ve only just met. What ifwe should grow to despise one another? We could not end the marriage and risk the dissolution of the treaty."

“No,” Zephyr said softly, his voice carrying an air of quiet finality. “We could not.” His eyes met Edric’s, the intensity of his gaze piercing, but there was no hint of the storm raging beneath his calm exterior. He held Edric’s stare for a long, drawn-out moment, as though weighing his words carefully. “And yet, we must not be expected to remain together at all times. Once I am released to return home and be crowned, we will both be occupied with the rule of our own kingdoms.”

Edric nodded slowly, his mind working through the implications of Zephyr’s words. He felt an overwhelming sense of realization settle over him. Alec and Herbert—his two trusted advisors—had thought of everything. The plan, as uncomfortable as it felt, was clearly mapped out with precision. “So. It’s meant to be a temporary arrangement, then. To appease the people until things have calmed, and then we will go our separate ways.”

Zephyr gave a sharp, almost bitter little laugh, the sound carrying the weight of everything that had brought them to this point. “Perhaps the occasional visit for appearance’s sake,” he mused. “A marriage in name only.”

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