Page 56 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

“Yes,” I said quietly.

“And there’s the truth.” He sounded bitter with hurt. I hated it, but I understood it. There was a reason I lost sight of why I was here. Vareck hadn’t treated me like a prisoner. While Kaia had been searching for Damon, Vareck had been . . . wooing me? Getting to know me? Whatever it was, feelings had started developing, and he wasn’t the only one.

“I would have come back.”

Vareck glanced over, his expression unreadable. “To drop Damon off before you left again?”

I shook my head. “I . . . I want to know you too. But I want to do it without my actions between us. I know I can’t undo the past, but I guess I thought maybe once Damon was back we could move forward.” I pressed my lips together in a self-deprecating smile. “I suppose that’s stupid now that I say it out loud. Even though you haven’t thrown me in the dungeon, you’re still a king and I’m still the asshole that kidnapped the heir to the throne.”

Vareck stared at me with an intensity I didn’t understand. Part of me wanted to hide from it, but the other side won out. The side that wanted to be brave.

“Why are you telling me this now?” His voice gave away nothing. “I’ve made it painfully clear how I’ve felt since the moment we met, and you’ve fought me at every turn. Why admit this now?”

“Because I want you to trust me. I want to trust each other. Being honest seems like a pretty good place for me to start.”

Vareck turned to face me, his shoulders releasing thetension they'd been holding, his body language finally changing for the first time since I'd arrived. “This isn't how I imagined it,” he said, gesturing between us. “You and me.”

“Me either. To be fair, I didn’t know you were real. But when you found me, it was under the worst possible circumstances and everything since has spiraled out of control.” I smiled, thinking about the four years I’d dreamed about him. “I think the way that we met in our dreams was a much nicer introduction than what reality provided us.”

His eyes darkened for a moment, and when he spoke, there was a small growl in his voice. “On that we agree.”

An idea formed. I wiped the palms of my hands against my pants as nervousness followed it. “What if we started over? Like you tried when you first brought me here.” He raised a brow in question. I held my hand out to shake his, and said, “I'm Meera Wylde. I was born in Faerie, but my family moved to earth when I was a baby. I’m the youngest of six kids. Kinda. Sadie and I are the same age, and we don’t actually know who was born first.” I let out an awkward laugh because I was totally rambling like a damn middle schooler trying to talk to her crush. “Anyway, Twizzlers are my favorite candy. Blue is my favorite color. I have a somewhat unhealthy addiction to romance books, especially the morally gray kind. I own a failing antiques store and my favorite thing to collect is antique jewelry.” I turned my head slightly so he could see the antique comb that he had given me, tucked away in my hair.

“Vareck Einar,” he said with a playful smile. “My affinity is spirit. I have an annoying cat as a familiar. I’ve never had Twizzlers, but I love a good red velvet cake. I’ve never thought much about having a favorite color, but itwould be anything other than white. I’m sick of white after being surrounded by it for so many years. I don’t really have hobbies. It’s hard to, with the realm and all. When I was younger, I enjoyed horseback riding and archery. Kaia was better at both and never let me forget it.” He chuckled, smiling with fondness at the memories. “My talents lie more with strategy and problem solving. Useful in ruling a realm, but not very flashy. When I’m not in meetings or reading proposals I've been searching for this woman I've been dreaming about for years.”

“That's so weird. Me too.” I placed my hand on my chest, enjoying the moment.

“You've also been dreaming about a beautiful woman with red hair?”

“No, I see her in the mirror every day.” I pressed my lips into a coy smile. “I've been dreaming about this guy. He has the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard. I never knew what he looked like, though. Not until recently.”

Vareck chuckled. “I hope you weren’t too disappointed upon that discovery.”

I snorted. “Not at all. Tall, dark, and handsome—he’s really the perfect cliché.”

“Cliché, huh?” He scratched jaw then ran a hand over his short beard. “Never heard that as a compliment.”

“Well it is. He also gives very thoughtful gifts.”

“That so?” Vareck grinned.

“The books were really nice, by the way. Good selection. I read all of them. And the clothes fit well,” I said, opening my cloak slightly to show him the new pieces I was wearing.

“I’m glad you liked them.”

“I’m sorry about the flowers,” I said,feeling my cheeks flush with shame as I looked at the glass lily in his mother’s hand. I felt like I had dishonored her somehow.

Vareck reached out and grazed the side of my cheek gently with his knuckles, the supple leather caressing my skin. “She would have liked you.” When I tilted my head in question, he elaborated. “My mother. Glass lilies were her favorite flower too. That's why I have them everywhere. They remind me of her.”

“Well, now I feel worse for having stomped on them in the hallway,” I muttered.

Vareck shook his head gently. “Don't. You were upset. Even if I had good reasons for the necklace, you’re allowed to be angry about it. She never wanted anyone to feel guilty for their emotions. Not even when we reacted to them poorly. She said it was part of growing and learning.”

“She sounds like my mom. There has never been a point in my life that I felt adopted. Sometimes I forget that I am. But there were times in my youth when I wanted to rebel in anger, you know, say stupid, hurtful things like ‘you’re not my real mom,’ and she accepted that from me without shaming me afterwards. She said discovering where I fit into the world was part of growing and learning too.” I glanced at the statue of Lore, thinking they might have been friends. “It didn’t take long to realize I fit in just fine with all of them. Since then, I don’t even think about where I came from, or why.”

He listened without judging, letting me talk freely.

“She was a good teacher. Redcaps are spirited and reactive, but she taught and encouraged us to have a range of emotions, never giving into just one. I think it’s what helps my sister win fights. Sadie isn’t ruled by her anger, even when provoked.”

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