Page 18 of Cursed Evermore
Although I was sure we’d visit each other as often as we could, it was scary to think of what the world would be like without us seeing each other every day, but that was the new life we had ahead of us. It would just be so much worse for me.
“You’ll be okay tomorrow. I mean when Thayden gets here. I’m actually looking forward to his visit. If nothing else, it’ll take the heat off the stress at home.”
“I suppose that’s one good thing.”
Her smile thinned. “I’m sorry. That was selfish of me. I know you’re freaking out about him.”
“I understood what you meant.”
“Oh, good. It’s just that your mother is more relaxed when Thayden and Mattieu are around and people like Chancellor Blackthornetend to leave us alone. Their presence will help take the pressure off everything and may even get Blackthorne off our backs.”
Even I had to agree. Thayden was a knight who’d served King Varis for years. Mattieu, Thayden’s father, was a High Lord in Zyvaris. Everyone including Blackthorne and Friar Jameson revered them.
“I just have to get my head around everything else.” I bit the inside of my lip, trying to tune out the gravity of what awaited me.
“And you will. You’re determined like that.”
“I’m not so sure being determined will be enough to help me.” I took another swig of ale. “I mean, what am I actually going to do, Emabelle?”
She sighed, resting her hands in her lap. “I don’t know what to tell you.”
I wouldn’t know what to say to me, either, if I were her. “It’s okay. If things were supposed to be different, the spell would have worked.” I lowered my voice even though we had the added privacy of being seated at the back of the tavern, where there weren’t many people. Couldn’t be too careful, though. Blackthorne had his spies everywhere.
“You’ll never know that for sure.”
“No, I won’t. But I felt it should have worked. I did everything right. There was even a moment when the spell looked like it was working, then the wraith attacked like a freaking wildcard with a vengeance.”
“You’re lucky you didn’t get killed,” she scoffed with a deep frown. “What you did was so damn reckless, Elariya. And you went out all by yourself.”
“Would you have gone with me?” I gave her a deadpan stare, knowing the answer.
“Of course not, but I wished I had the chance to talk you out of it.”
“I wouldn’t have given you that chance.”
“Please tell me you aren’t thinking of doing something crazy.”
“No.” The hollowness in my voice came from deep within. No one had to worry about me doing anything crazy. Despite the desire I had to get my life and my father back, I knew I’d done enough damage. I wasn’t looking to do any more.
“Promise me you won’t, Elariya.” Emabelle cocked her head and gave me a piercing, pleading stare. “That wraith thing could come back if it thinks you took something.”
Little thief…
Those crippling words were still ringing through my soul like a never-ending echo.
Little thief, little thief, little thief…
On and on and on the words went, and I almost couldn’t wait for the curse to kick in again so I could forget.
To add to the shit, there was more to worry about when it came to magic. “You don’t have to worry about me doinganything.” My voice dropped a beat lower. “I can’t feel my magic anymore.”
Emabelle’s eyes rounded to murky wide pools of confusion. “What do you mean, you can’t feel it?”
“I haven’t since I woke up. It’s like it’s … gone.” There hadn’t even been a spark.
I used to be able to levitate small objects and make flowers bloom. Nothing impressive, but I could manage the basics. I couldn’t do either of those things now.
That’s why I was so worried Grandmother would strip my powers. If she did, there’d be no hope of my magic returning.
