Page 18 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

“I’m not going to hurt you.” He scrunched his brows. “Why are you acting this way?”

“Because you’re freaking me out,” I blurted, the pitch of my voice rising.

“I just want to talk to you. I want to know you.”

“Yeah, that’ll calm her down. Not creepy at all,” Damon muttered, and the king shot him a look.

“Stop talking,” Vareck told his nephew before returning his attention to me.

“Why are . . .” I paused, trying to catch my breath. His eyes were intense, and for the first time in this little slice of hell, I fully grasped that he didn’t know what I was here for, but for an entirely different reason, he was hereforme. I wasn’t sure which was more dangerous. “Why do you want to talk to me?”

“Because Iknowyou,” he began, shaking his head like he’d said the wrong thing when I flinched back slightly. “What I mean is, I’ve dreamt about you—that came out wrong.” Vareck raked a hand through his thick chestnut hair. “Fuck.”

A whooshing sound clouded my hearing as my heart pushed blood through my veins at a high rate of speed. Mouth dry, my balance faltered, and I stumbled.

How could he . . .? If I had dreamed of him . . . and he was dreaming of me . . .

Too many questions. I couldn’t breathe. It was as if someone had sucked the oxygen from the room.

“What did you say?” I choked. “That’s not possible.” I couldn’t look away. My heart hammered in my chest, but I tried to stay in control. Shaking my head in disbelief, I blinked rapidly, replaying his words in my head, too shocked to figure out what they could possibly mean.

“I knew it.” His eyes widened as he looked at me with realization. Vareck took a step forward.

“Stop!”I cried out, not knowing if my magic could work on someone as powerful as him, but to my surprise, it did.

Vareck froze, darkness clouding his gaze.

I let out a stuttered gasp. That just happened. I just used persuasion on the king.

Well. I was going to die. Dream girl or not, I was pretty sure that was a capital offense here.

Damon coughed a laugh, pulling me back to reality. “This night has taken a weird turn, but I have to say, it’s a good look on you, Uncle.”

My hands shook as I scrambled to Damon, my magic still holding both of them in check. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Stay. Don’t move,” I commanded. I used my magic again, my voice trembling, “Good. Good boy… err, man… king. Good king.”

I was running on fumes now, my energy rapidly draining. This whole thing was confusing on every level, and I had to get out before it was too late. I’d figure out the rest of it later.

“Get up and follow me.” I grabbed Damon by his cuffed wrist, dragging him out of the room. I didn’t dare look back. The cold metal clicked as I wrapped it around his other wrist, securing it tight.

“Question, if you don’t mind me asking,” he said casually as I pulled him behind me.

“I do mind.” I tugged on the chain, trying to recall how to get out of this damn palace.

“Still, I think I have the right to ask why you’re taking me with you. I mean, sure, we could have had fun. I’m all for tying each other up, cuffing to the bed, and what not, but the mood is gone, don’t you think?”

Left, right, staircase, left? Or was it right, right, staircase? I stopped at a corner, peeking around to make sure the hall was empty before I turned to him. “You really are a wanker.”

“Maybe, but I’m not the one who’s lost,” Damon said with a shrug.

“You’re right.” I shot him an angry glare, pushing more of my magic into the command. “Show me a secret way out.”

“You could say please,” he teased, but I wasn’t in the mood for his jokes.

“Now. Hurry,” I barked, shoving him along. I could feel my power waning. Holding him and the king drained more than I could have ever imagined. I couldn’t summon the energy to persuade Damon to shut up.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, almost dragging me along as he took the lead and stopped by a large portrait. He angled his head toward it. “It’s a door. I’d open it for you, but I’m sort of tied up at the moment.” He waved his fingers in the cuffs, smiling.

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