Page 37 of Magic Cursed

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After dinner, and three large scoops of blessed ice cream, Kellan walks me back to my rooms. I’m surprised at what a normal time we had. As we dined, Kellan told me about the first of his annual visits with Daimis at his Aunt and Uncle’s estate in Northern Thaaryn. They had gone ice fishing when Kellan accidentally dropped Daimis’s family pendant into the hole in the ice. Although, remembering Kellan as a child, I couldn’t help but wonder if it really was accidental, though I kept that to myself. Daimis wasn’t about to let the pendant go, he stripped down to his breaches and jumped right into the hole to retrieve it, which sounds exactly like the Daimis I remember. Only, he got disoriented and was stuck under the ice. Kellan had to axe through the ice to get him out. He’s still not entirely sure how Daimis survived not only without air for a long time but being in the freezing temperatures of the lake. Kellan said that Daimis is practically immune to the cold now. As though after experiencing what true freezing feels like, all other cold is relative.

As punishment for their stupidity, Daimis’s Uncle made them help the cleaning staff for two weeks. The Regent was furious with the punishment when he found out, but Kellan said he was grateful for it. He claimed that he gained a new appreciation for the castle staff he never would have known otherwise.

I can’t help but wonder if the three of us would have had similar adventures together if things had gone differently. At about the same time their adventure happened, I was in the streets, keeping my cloaking spell on as much as I could so as not to get caught by the Steel Guard. Since I couldn’t keep my cloaking spell on while I slept, every night, I’d find the smallest space I could squeeze into. I’d hope and pray to whatever Goddesses and Gods would listen that no one would find me. Sometimes, I would wake to rats nibbling on my feet, or bugs crawling on me. I would eat whatever scraps I could find and steal to stay alive. It was another year after that when Des found me.

If the night of the Blood Moon never happened, would Kellan and I have become friends? Would he have courted me? I stare at my arm laced with his, and regret that we couldn’t have found out.

“Can I get you anything?” Kellan asks when we get to the door to my rooms.

With the night a success and me feeling comfortable for the first time in a while, I decide to take a chance with Kellan. To allow myself to trust him with something small.

I let go of his arm and turn to him. “Actually, I was hoping to get my hands on some magic books. Particularly anything on the shadow demons, or the magic they possess. If I have to go up against them again, I want to be as prepared as possible.”

“You still don’t remember how you did it?”

I avert my eyes down and shake my head. “It’s all just a fog in my mind.” I hate lying to him, but as much fun as I have when I’m with him, I still don’t trust him enough with the truth of my magic or my identity.

I glance up through my lashes and see him examining me, but he must believe me because he just nods once in resignation. “Well, I just hope that whatever you did, you can do it again if we face them on our journey. As far as the books, after the night of the Blood Moon, all the magic books were rounded up and placed under lock and key. Only the Regent has access to them, but I’ll see what I can do to get you some.”

Of course, they would be locked up. It was magic that threw everything into chaos. It’s what brought the shadow demons here and killed the Good King. Books on magic are considered deadly weapons in the wrong hands. And yet Kellan trusts me with them.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Wow, two thank you’s in one evening.” He takes my hand in his. “It was my pleasure to dine with you tonight little Devil-angel.” He brushes his warm lips over the top of my hand. So chivalrous of him, so refined, so not me.

I may not be able to trust him with my secrets, but that doesn’t mean I can’t trust him with a little more of me. With my hand still in his, I pull him close to me, wrap our joined hands around my waist and go up on my toes. I stop, my mouth a breath away from his, a wicked smile on my lips.

“Not feeling much like an angel right now,” I say over his lips, my voice husky.

I get a thrill at the way his eyes darken and his hand at the small of my back presses me into him. He brushes his lips over mine, teasing, tasting. I explore the kiss just the same, savoring it, utterly lost in the moment as excitement courses through my veins. Deep down, a part of me fears this is a bad idea. But for now, at least, I ignore the thought completely. I take the kiss deeper. A groan of pleasure escapes Kellan and he tangles his free hand in my hair.

We end the kiss and I’m taken aback by the expression on Kellan’s face. At first, his brows are lifted with his eyes a little wide in wonder, but then his brows crease in confusion like he’s battling something in his thoughts. Then his body tenses under my arms.

“You okay, Golden-Eyes?” I ask backing out of his embrace. He does nothing to stop me.

He shakes his head and puts a little smile on his face. I hate that I immediately know it’s fake.

“Of—of course. I—I have to go. I just remembered something that slipped my mind. I’m sorry. I just, I have to leave.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Absolutely.” He starts to back up, his body language in direct contradiction to his words. “I’ll try to get you those books.” He turns and walks briskly away. I watch him round the corner only to smack into the guard. He apologizes to the guard, blaming clumsiness, then continues on out of my view.

I’m not sure what that was all about, but it puts a sour feeling in my stomach. No girl kisses a man and hopes to see him run off. I may have crossed a line that I shouldn’t have.

I start to go into my room when someone says with a lazy drawl, “That must have been some kiss.”

I whip my head around to the voice. Daimis is sauntering toward me from the opposite end of the hall. He wears brown leather trousers and a black shirt rolled up to expose muscled forearms. A sword is sheathed at his hip, and it bobs against his leg as he walks. I can just see the top ridge of his chest muscles peeking out in a seductive tease from under the V of his collar. A chain is draped around his neck, the pendant hidden under his shirt. But I can picture the pendant in detail. It’s his family crest: a sun carved into a circular medallion with a quote around it that says,lead them into the light.His father gifted it to him on his tenth birthday. It was always his greatest treasure.

He stops a foot away from me. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen Kellan so. . .” he waves his hand. “Flustered.”

I refuse to let him know that Kellan’s reaction unnerved me, so I decide to take control of the narrative. I give him a slight smile. “I don’t like to brag, but. . .” I shrug, then narrow my eyes. “You’re not supposed to be here for another hour. Are you spying on me, Prince Daimis?”

The corner of his mouth quirks in amusement. “Spying is your thing if I remember. Just left my rooms and happened to stumble upon, well. . .” He raises his brows. “Not entirely sure what I stumbled upon.” I look back at the way he came to the only other door in the hallway. Apparently, Daimis’s rooms are right next to mine. How had I not known that this whole time? So, they’re still the royal suites after all.

“Just two adults enjoying each other’s company,” I brush off casually.

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