Page 28 of Magic and Matrimony

“I need to talk to Josephine.” I’m breathless as I run down to the kitchen.

“Why do you need to talk to my bonded?” Roman sounds like a territorial animal.

“Dammit, Roman, it’s about Piper.”

There’s some shuffling, and then Josephine says hello in a raspy voice.

“What is Piper’s curse? How can I help her?” I’m in the middle of the kitchen spinning in a circle. What the hell should I get from here?

Josephine is quiet for a moment. “Is she sick?”

“Yes,” I bite out, trying to keep my voice even. Josephine doesn’t need me to yell at her because I’m panicking.

“It usually lasts a few days, longer lately. So maybe four or five days. She’ll spike a horrible fever and won’t be able to keep down any food. She doesn’t really like people being around when she’s sick.”

Tough shit. I’m not going to leave her to suffer alone. How many times was I sick as a kid and there was no one here to check on me? The nannies would pop in to throw some medicine my way, and take my temperature, but it was out of obligation, not because they cared for me.

“What can I do?”

“Keep her warm. Try to get her to drink fluids.” Josephine sounds apologetic.

“There must be something else.” I drag my hand through my hair, pacing in the kitchen.

“It’s her curse, Ambrose. There’s nothing to be done but to wait for it to pass.”

I hang up and then run around the house like a madman, gathering up a collection of drinks, a hot water bottle, extra blankets. When I get back to Piper’s room, she’s moaning as though pain is splitting her body apart.

I set the drinks on the table and hand her a hot water bottle. She hugs it to her stomach, but I don’t know if it’s doing anything.

“Stop staring,” Piper pleads, turning her head into the pillow as she writhes beneath the blankets.

She might want me to go away, but I can’t. What if something happens when I’m not here? What if she needs me and I’m in another room? I drag a chair over to the side of the bed and hold vigil.

“I’m here. If you need anything.”

15

PIPER

Everything hurts. Each muscle from my eyebrows down to the tips of my toes. This always happens when I come out of my curse. It’s from days spent shivering and clenching my body. My mouth is dry, and my head is fuzzy. The bed is soft under my back and the sheets are really nice. This doesn’t feel familiar. I’m not in my bed.

What happened right before my curse kicked in?

Ambrose.

Memories of what Ambrose did to me moments before the sickness took over come screaming back into my head. Holy crap. I’m not at my place. I’m not in my bed. I’m at Ambrose’s house. Ambrose, who every time I cracked my eyes open, was sitting next to the bed. He never left my side for more than a few minutes. He helped me walk to the bathroom and waited outside the door for me.

Crone help me.

I turn my head and hold back the groan of pain. Ambrose is sitting in a hard-backed chair, his chin on his chest and his armscrossed. His legs are kicked up on the edge of the bed, and it doesn’t look comfortable.

His clothes are wrinkled, and his hair is a mess. He looks tired. My heart pangs in my chest. He never left my side. Why did he stay? A lock of golden hair falls forward over his brow and I take a moment to observe him while he’s sleeping. Long straight nose, defined cheeks and jaw. Little creases in the corners of his eyes from smiling so much. He’s such a beautiful man. But it’s not just his physical appearance. Ambrose is kind and supportive. I think he might be as damaged as I am, but he never shows it to the world. I hate that he has to hide parts of himself away.

“You didn’t have to stay here.” My voice is rough, and I clear my throat. Ambrose's head jerks up and he blinks a few times while his eyes focus. It looks like he doesn’t know where he’s at either.

“Piper?” He sits up straight, his feet falling to the ground. “You’re awake. What do you need? Something to drink? You’re probably hungry.” Ambrose stands up, looking ready to bolt out of the room, but I reach my hand out to him.

“How many days has it been?”

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