Page 56 of Cursed Evermore
I thought she could be about the same age as me, but it was difficult to guess with magical beings.
Who was she?
More importantly, was she an enemy?
She stepped forward and walked slowly toward me, looking me over as if she was assessingmefor danger.
She stopped in front of me, placed a dainty hand to her heart, and bowed her head with such grace and reverence it warmed my insides.
“Na már iyah,” she spoke, her voice as gentle as the breeze.
My breath caught as I recognized what she said. In the common tongue it meant:I wish you well.
Na már iyahwas a customary greeting in Ivaliyahce, the language of the mages. That was one of the first things both Grandmother and Mother had taught me.
The girl had to be a mage.
“Ye vár iyah,” I responded in kind, which translated to:And I you.My heart sped with hope that she could help me.
“My name is Arielle Bloodrose. I’m a mage from the Aethermist Realm. You are of Ravenwood descent?”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Yes. I…am. I’m Elariya Grayson.” I was about to explain that I was only half mage and didn’t know anything much, but I held my tongue, realizing she didn’t need the explanation. There were more pressing matters to talk aboutthan my lineage. “Please help me. I’m in danger. A man, a Fae male, has trapped me here.”
I stepped closer. Her smile receded.
“I’m aware of your situation, Elariya.”
I stared back at her, not quite knowing what to make of her comment.
Did she know Wolfe? If she did, then… was she working with him to keep me captive?
“Why are you here?” The words tumbled out of my mouth on the edge of a shaky breath. “Do you know Wolfe?”
“I do know him.”
I stepped back, away from her.
“Please wait. I mean you no harm.” She held up both her hands as if the gesture was supposed to make her seem more credible.
“He took me. I have to get back to my family. He thinks I stole something, and I… I didn’t.” My mind tripped over those last words because I couldn’t say with certainty that I hadn’t done anything wrong.
“I’m here to find out what happened.”
“What do you mean?” I pressed a hand to my heart. “What does he think I took?”
“A ring.”
“A ring?”I gave her a narrowed look. Wolfe thought I stole a ring. “I don’t know anything about a ring.”
“If you saw this ring, you’d know it. It’s silver, etched with runes and dragons around the band. An oval gemstone of deep crimson sits in the center that gleams fire in the sun.”
“I haven’t seen anything like that.”Not this month. But what about every other month for the last five years?
What if I’d seen it,taken it, and the curse robbed me of the memory?
Blessed Mother,should I tell her about my curse?
No. No. I couldn’t.Shouldn’t.
