Page 58 of Glass Hearts
She waves me off, setting down her glass of wine. “Nonetheless. Why don’t you just MARRY the princes?! We can then avoid the aloof mage, get you wed, and then, BAM! Cursebroken.” She claps her hands together as if it is such an easy solution.
Winona leans up from her chair, lightly grabbing my arm. “You are cursed, Ella!?”
“Yup. I know, it’s not as common. But I pretty much need to get married, or else I will be tied to my evil stepfamily. Well, that’s if she doesn’t marry me off first. I doubt she would pick a suitable match.” I shiver at the thought of what kind of man Bernice would marry me off to.
“Your stepfamily is awful. I feel bad that your kind heart is subjected to them. Curses, in my opinion, happen more often than the council admits. I-I am also cursed.”
A collective gasp ensues as we direct our attention to Winona. A small tear runs down her porcelain-white cheeks.
“I don’t want to bring down the mood, ladies,” Winona says. “Can we talk about anything else? Even if it is about how to season a cast iron pan?”
I take her hand in mine, and Lo joins. Bri, who is across from her, caresses her ankle.
“We are here for you if you ever want to chat,” I say.
“And I would offer my magical services. But I have already almost blown up Ella a couple of times trying to remove her curse… so perhaps maybe not your first option,” Lo jokes.
We all burst into a peal of teary-eyed laughter. We almost don’t even hear the knock and opening of the door until Jett bursts in, aiming for the pillows in the middle of us.
“Oh my goodness, so fluffy. So many pretty smells. A new friend? I will love you too! Oh no, new friend- why are you crying?! Did you also only get two scoops for dinner? Or did you also lose a toy?” Jett loves up on Winona.
We all burst out laughing when we see the princes, with bowties on and butler hats a top of their heads. They look so ridiculous that I almost miss the baskets of items they hold.
“Sunshine! We aren’t trying to crash your girls’ night. But we thought you all could use a few more supplies.”
Lo squeals and gets up to check out the baskets.
The butterflies in my stomach wreak havoc, seeing my sweet princes trying to make my night special. I go up to each with an enormous hug and kiss. When I reach Archer, I chance a hug. Shocked when he returned it, his whole body curled into me. He hugs me as if I were lost and he had just found me. I kiss his cheek as we break the embrace.
“Alright, come on, Jett, let’s leave the ladies alone.” Sylas pats his thigh.
“Nah. I am good right here, pops.” He doesn’t move between Bri and Winona.
“I think he is good where he is. Would it be alright to return him later this evening?” I giggle.
“Traitor,” Koi jokingly admonishes the dog.
“Sure thing, Vixen.” Sylas leans down for another kiss that lingers, until Grayer punches him, breaking our kiss.
“Jeeze, Sy, stop hogging our girl.”
Instead of kissing me again, Sylas grabs the back of Grayer’s neck and directs him out along with the other princes. I turn around to my girls, giggling in pure delight.
“Did… did that just happen?” I laugh.
“Yup, that solidifies it; they are obsessed with you,” Bri adds.
“Ella, they, like, actually care about you.” It surprises me when I heard the sincere, serious tone in Lo’s voice. “At first, I thought I would need to be here to rescue you. Then I thought you would need me so I could help pick up the pieces of your broken heart. But the way they look at you, how they treat you… Honestly, theycouldbreak your curse.”
“They have mentioned before that they never wanted a wife; it was just the council pushing. So I don’t think that has changed, Lo.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure; I have seen those boys with a A LOT of women.” I quirk a jealous eyebrow at Bri.
She laughs. “Sorry, they were man whores, girly, no avoiding that. But I am very heavy on the WERE. I have never seen them pursue someone like they have you.”
It all feels so serious, and I start to feel a little uncomfortable. I swallow hard; the truth lingers in my mind even though I am not ready to accept it.
I am falling in love with them, even Archer. And that is terrifying.
