Page 81 of Façade

But would I be able to maintain my fragile hold over this resolve when the persuasive seductions continuously reaching for her powers eventually eclipsed all sense? Love remained new and unfamiliar, leaving me no idea whether it was a powerful enough force to fight against the temptation besetting me.

Her gentle smile warmed me through. “Your frequent noticing my rebellion gives me reason to believe my husband likes this trait of mine, an invitation for me to find more ways to wile you. I must do my wifely duty by making my dull husband’s life interesting.”

I liked that idea far too much, but before I could even form a proper retort fitting for this game of ours to earn another of her coveted smiles, she gave my arm a playful swat. My breath immediately hitched, both at the heat of our contact and the spark ofsomethingI felt from her touch.

Was that magic?

This unwanted wondering immediately pulled my thoughts away from our pleasant interaction back to the dangerous, forbidden territory I’d valiantly fought to escape, a battle I felt too weak to recommence when my defenses lay in shambles at my feet…which created an opening for the slithering voice to return.

She has the magic you need. It’d be so easy to take some…

No, I mustn’t!

Just a little bit, the darkness inside me rationalized.Just enough to stop the curse and heal the land. Then you need never take any from her ever again.

She must have been who the priest referred to as the one in my entourage who’d healed me, which meant her magic also had the ability to heal the curse, and without any harm befalling her. I could begin by taking a little bit for now, and if it wasn’t enough, I could take a little more later. Surely borrowing her power gradually would be alright…

These rationalizations urged me to lean closer than we already were. I became fully enveloped in her alluring warmth and intoxicating perfume, near enough to see every cute freckle that dotted her nose and feel the gentle pull of her hazel eyes that seemed to seep inside me, as lovely as everything else about her.

Unbidden, my gaze flickered down to her lips and without conscious thought I found myself leaning closer…even closer when she stood on her tiptoes, as if she shared my desires for whatever was happening between us.

She was so close…much too close. Her magic hummed in the space between us, mingling with the pull from my wildly pounding heart.

Yet even during such a moment the seductions lingered, whispering suggestions—not to kiss her as I yearned to, but tosteal. All I’d need to do would be to use her distraction to graze the vial waiting patiently within my grasp along her skin. It’d be done in a moment…

With a frightened gasp I hastily stumbled back, severing myself from her intoxicating touch that muddled all sense in order to create much-needed distance. She blinked at me, confused and even a bit hurt. “Ryland?” The way her voice broke caused me to hate myself.

“I’ve overexerted myself. I should lie down.”

Concern immediately eclipsed her. “Are you alright? Should I walk you back—“ She stepped forward, reaching for me, but I stumbled backwards before she could touch me.

“No!I’ll be fine.” I felt this lie acutely. I was many things at the moment—a weak, dishonorable cad being the most prominent—but I was certainly notfine, not in a situation as dangerous as this. I loathed myself for my weakness.

Before I could be tempted to linger, I turned and hastily retreated. With every step away the vial burned against my touch even as my tempting thoughts fought to lure me back to the path I knew I must never venture.

Would love be a force strong enough to resist this siren’s call…or would its persuasive power eventually consume me?

CHAPTER27

RYLAND

Itried my best to forget about Evie’s magic, but it consumed my thoughts like an invading army, even infiltrating the sanctity of my dreams. Memories of the magical light waltzed with the shadows of the night, entwining to tangle its seductive whispers with my thoughts, tempting me to reach out and snatch it.

Even when sleep eventually lured me into the blissful state of unconsciousness I found little relief. Instead the seductions’ sinister shadows formed across the darkness shrouding my mind, indiscernible at first, but eventually I recognized its shapes as different sections of my kingdom. Another invisible but tangible force stretched across my mind’s stage, erasing everything it tainted. Nothing could stop the curse…save for a glistening light that penetrated the shadowy performance. But even as I watched, this magic flickered and died, swallowed by the curse as it continued its relentless consumption, leaving nothing in its wake.

I awoke in a cold sweat. I bolted upright and fought for breath, each painful shudder poisoned by the images lingering in my thoughts. It was still night, though the approaching dawn clung to the horizon in welcome reprieve. With a sigh I settled back against the pillows and pressed my hand to my pounding heart in an effort to still it.

Only a nightmare…yet one all too real, a reminder of what needed to be done if my kingdom was to have any hope:Steal her magic. You know you need it.

I groaned and pressed my palms against my eyes, as if blocking out all sight could stave off the tempting whispers…but they only grew stronger, more persistent.

Steal her magic, steal her magic, steal her magic…over and over they taunted. The only way to silence them would be to heed their wishes. Yet how could I do that to Evie? I couldn’t, Iwouldn’t.

You can, all too easily.

It truly would be. I only needed to graze her skin with the magic-stealing vial and her powers would be mine to claim…which meant that the only course would be to avoid her completely. Easier said than done when my wife had the annoying tendency to linger in my thoughts due to my heart’s persistent yearning to see her.

The sooner we annulled our marriage, the better. Only severing our connection would prevent me from accessing the powers I couldn’t have, yet which I in my weakness desperately wanted.

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