Page 53 of Lost Starlight
We trudged into the jungle, my hand in Peter’s. I wondered how I had been so blessed to be the one who Peter wanted to spend so much time with. It may have been hard to fathom, and the voice of my mother in my head often caused me to question it, but the truth was right there before me. Peter wanted me; he wanted to speak to me.
“I’ve missed your stories.” He looked at me with his joyful smile. “The way you recite them. No one has the magic you do when you read.”
“No magic at all, I assure you,” I said, knowing my cheeks were darkening. “I am sorry I haven’t been here to read to you—but how are you?”
“I feel well, knowing you are safe, although I’d rather you were stillsafeat home.”
I pushed away the thought that he regretted my coming.
That’s not what he said.
I went back to talking with him. “I was so worried about you, Peter—”
He stopped, and I looked up. For most of the conversation, I had been looking at my feet and had only taken short glances toward Peter.
We stood on a cliff, the sunset before us bright with hues of yellow, orange, and pink. I gasped, looking at the beauty before me.
“Peter, this is incredible.”
“I’ve never been here before, but I did notice this area when I was flying earlier and thought it would be a pleasant spot.”
“It’s breath-taking,” I said with clear awe in my voice.
The sea seemed to sparkle in the same shades as the sky, dancing back and forth.
“I have something to tell you that I should have already told you. I am sorry about that. It was not because of you; it was me. After we leave this island, I wish to marry you right away; however, I must tell you this before we wed.”
Fear mixed with joy inside of me.
“What?”
“My curse, Gwen. I must tell you what it is. I am sorry to bring the burden of it into our marriage.”
“What is it, Peter? I will ever be at your side.”
“I have been cursed to never be satisfied in my life, to always crave and seek adventure.” He turned away from me. To be honest, while a curse is, in itself, a wretched thing, I am grateful for the one I have. Dominick’s was far worse, and—”
“Do not downplay your curse. It is dreadful, Peter. Your struggles, although different from your brothers, does not mean it isn’t difficult for you.”
“It is the reason I always have a storyteller. Mother found that when she read stories to me, I would just sit and listen. The way my mind is wired, I am able to place myself inside the stories as if I am living them, myself, anddoing this has helped curb my desire to leave my home throughout my life.”
“So, that is why I was tasked with being your storyteller.”
“Yes, it was a rather important royal job,” he said, kissing my cheek.
“And do you not know how to break this curse?”
“No. I realize that some royals figured out how to break their curses, but my mother said when Draken cursed our family, he left no hope behind.”
“I am so sorry.”
“So, I wanted to ask you, could you, would you, be alright with not only being my wife, but also being my storyteller for the rest of our days?” He looked down at his feet as if he were afraid of my answer.
I moved his face, tilting it slightly to lock eyes with him.
“There is nothing I want more.”
“Truly?”
