Page 156 of Fate's Sweetest Curse
I bit my lip and broke eye contact, staring out over the southern hills, where a soft breeze was sending ripples through the stalks.Mystrength was still normal, which meant that it wasn’t just my potion that made the difference—something about the arcane magic already in Noble’s veins played a role, too. I was relieved I couldn’t recreate the effect. Relieved that what Ididknow had not been passed on to Marona’s adepts.
When I met Noble’s eyes again, I shrugged innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He quirked a brow. “Don’t you?”
I shook my head, causing my curls to bounce. “Nope.”
“Hmm.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tugging me closer. “Well, never mind, then.”
A gentle gust of warm, late-spring wind rustled the leaves of the trees. I brushed a lock of Noble’s hair away from his forehead, smoothing my fingers over the place where the horns had pushed through.
“So, Waldron?” I asked him.
“Do you think they’ll have me?” he asked. “I’m afraid I cultivated a reputation of standoffishness. Won’t they be protective of you?”
I pressed a kiss to his stubbled cheek. “Once I come clean to them about who I am, I believe you’ll be the least shocking thing about my return.”
Noble chuckled into my hair. “You’re probably right.” When he pulled back to look at me, the skin around his eyes had creased. “Are you sure you want to tell them?”
I smoothed the creases with my fingertips, smiling. “I’m willing to hide in Waldron to avoid my claim,” I said, “but I’m done hidingmyselffrom the people I love.”
55
No Questions Asked
Hattie
Two days later, Noble and I stood in Phina’s chambers at the Collegium, dusty and smelling of horse from the hard ride back to Fenrir City. It was dark—just after midnight—and yet Phina hadn’t seemed surprised by our arrival. She’d simply ushered us inside, locked her door with aclick, and offered us wine (Noble had declined, but I’d gratefully accepted a heavy pour).
Now, she sat in one of the upholstered reading chairs by the window. “Care to sit?” she asked, crossing one leg over the other. She wore a flowing dressing gown, but in spite of the late hour, she seemed wide awake.
I was too antsy to sit, as was Noble, but I did take a fortifying sip of my wine. “Phina, the program—”
“I’ve already notified Lord Haron of its termination,” she interrupted.
I spluttered, and Noble rubbed my back.
“Mariana paid me a similar visit a few hours ago,” Phina explained, gesturing at us with her cup. “I had my suspicions that Lord Haron had ulterior motives for my research, and she confirmed.”
“What else did she say?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Phina said, “and I don’t wish to know.”
Noble shook his head. “But yourresearch—”
“Ought not be dictated by a corrupt ruler,” Phina finished for him. “My joy is in the research itself, which I can conduct independently from my cottage.” She glanced meaningfully at my bare wrist, Noble’s neck—our missing Oath tattoos. Having seen the effects of the Well of Fate on Anya and Idris, shemust’veknown that it played a role. She had to be curious about how I’d solved the curse. I certainly would be.
I stepped toward her. “I can tell you how.”
She smiled softly. “Unlike you, my curiosity does not outweigh my sense.”
A laugh burst out of me.
Phina flashed us a mischievous grin. “I do have my theories, though. And my research is never over—even if the setting changes.”
“What of your Adept Oath?” Noble asked. “And Oderin? Are you not obligated to divulge—”
“What, exactly? I have solved nothing. It is not against my Oath to give up,” Phina said. “As for Oderin, he prefers to stay out of my affairs—and I, his.”
