Page 198 of Cursed Evermore
“Yeah, but at the moment, I can't reach her. But if I do, I hope that she may be able to tell us what to do.”
That didn't exactly sound promising. “What happens if you don't find her and if nothing works?”
“I have to believe thatsomethingwill work. I don't think either of us would have come this far to fail. We just have to figure out a way to succeed.”
His words held the sort of inspiring conviction that moved people to have faith in themselves. I wanted nothing more than to do just that, but I was at odds with myself. When the resetoccurred, I would have moved several places backward to get to this point all over again.
“Don't worry about the curse.” He spoke as if he could see straight into my thoughts.
“It's hard not to.”
“I know, but we'll deal with it together when it happens.” The tenderness of his promise warmed my heart.
“I appreciate that.” It was strange feeling like I could trust him.
“Just keep journaling and try not to write about how much you hate me.” He smirked, lightening the mood.
“I'll do my best.” I offered him a small smile. Possibly the first. I couldn't remember smiling at him before. But my smile withered when I thought of my family. “I suppose I won't be seeing my family any time soon.”
“Don't worry about them. They're okay.” He sounded certain. Like he knew.
“Are they, Wolfe? You haven't exactly told me anything regarding their wellbeing.” Back on the ship, he said he'd make sure they didn't suffer. When I tried to press for details on what he'd do, he shot me down but still managed to assure me.
“I may have arranged for a wealthy lord from the North todiscoveryour grandmother and mother's healing talents. He's hired them as his personal physicians to tend to his sickly heir. He's paid them a year's treatment fee in advance, plus a bonus of gold worth more than your home to ensure their sole priority.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, the revelation stunning me to my core. I pressed my hand to the doorframe to steady myself. Even the fog from my hangover had lifted, replaced by pure astonishment. “You did all of that?”
“Yes.” He sighed then continued. “I've also sent spies to the mortal realm, who have been feeding false information and fake evidence to your witch hunters—Chancellor Blackthorneand Friar Jameson. They're now pursuing a bunch of made-up heretics in the borderlands who they believe are trying to set up a new faith by using black magic.”
I released the burning breath from my lungs and simply stared at him, shock still writhing through me. Everything I thought I knew and believed about Wolfe Nightblade crumbled in an instant, and he was starting to feel more like a protector than the dark captor who took me. All this time, he'd been caring for my family in ways I never knew, protecting what mattered to me most.
With all that money, my family would want for nothing. Emabelle would even be able to branch out and pursue her dreams of becoming a teacher. More importantly, my family wouldn't need the handouts and sustenance from Thayden's father.
And Blackthorne and Jameson? Gods be good. They would be so enraged and consumed with finding heretics using black magic that they would leave my family alone.
Apart from worrying about me, my family truly were fine. “You did so much more than anyone has done for us.”
“I always keep my word. I said I wouldn't let them suffer, and I meant it.”
“I can't thank you enough.”
“Don't thank me yet, Ziyka. We still have a curse to break.”
A curse to break and the darker parts of this journey to do with Father. I dared not mention him, and I dared not hope for mercy, even though in my heart I did. That was a burden I'd have to deal with when we got to that stage.
“Before you ask about Thayden,” Wolfe intoned with a sly grin, “your betrothed is looking for you in the savage lands. He'll be busy for a while.”
I hadn't even thought about Thayden, other than to acknowledge that my family wouldn't need to rely on his family so much. “Thayden is not my betrothed.”
Wolfe inclined his head and gave me a thin stare. “I know. I just like testing your reaction.”
“There is nothing to test.” I kept my voice firm, so he'd know where I stood. “I was supposed to marry him for my family's sake. I've never had any love for him and I never will.”
“Noted, my Lady.” His eyes bore into me, reaching past the layers of my walls, beyond my soul, as if he was trying to learn everything about me. Everything, from the way blood flowed through my body to how my mind worked.
“Looks like you took care of a lot.” I steered the conversation back to safer paths.
“I did.” His gaze softened, and he seemed to school his thoughts. “Now we can all focus on what needs to be done for the spell.”
