Page 65 of Of Curses and Courtship

“Where have you been?” Tibalt asks.

“Nowhere, and I do not plan to leave tonight. Your services are not required.”

He scoffs. “Forgive me for worrying. You’ve not been yourself of late, and you know what happens when you are not yourself…”

“Well, I am back to myself now. There’s no reason to worry.”

I ruffle his hair and slip inside my bedchamber, and my hulking friend follows.

He crosses his arms. “It appears so. Would you tell me where this rapid change has come from?”

That is quite the question, but I do not have an answer. I look through my books, scanning the precariously sprawled texts. “Unsure.” I look up with a jerking motion. “Tell me, friend, what do you know of true love?”

His eyes narrow. “No more than you do.”

“If you know what I know, then you know Princess Minetta and I are not truly in love.” I snap the book shut and peer into his golden eyes. “And our marriage will not heal the land, as the sorceress intended.”

“My friend, what I know is that love takes time. You can’t know unless?—”

“Then I should not be married to her unless I know. There’s too much at stake. My palace is at stake—Spark is at stake!”

A V-shaped line appears between his brows. “Perhaps you’re not back to your old self after all. I’ve not seen you this worked up since you were still studying. Those late nights tend to do this to you.”

“I’ve been sleeping.” I brush off his concerns. “Three hours a night, but that’s not what this is.”

“Don’t rush into action as you tend to. Don’t flee. Please, Emyr. That’s all I ask.” He steps closer and, when he attempts to take the book from my hand, I allow it. “Stay. I’m asking not as your guard, but as your friend.”

Tibalt will be my oldest and only friend if Spark is gone. Perhaps, for once, I should listen to his advice.

My shoulders slump. “I suppose you’re right. I was silly to think I found the answer.”

“Not silly. Hopeful.”

“There’s but a tiny spark of hope in my chest.” I meet hisgaze earnestly. “For if I can find a way to break this curse alone?—”

“Hope of you single-handedly breaking the curse? No, I’ve changed my mind. That’s your giant ego speaking. You’re but one person. How do you expect to find the cure to such a curse all on your own, and when it’s already been stated so plainly in the prophecy?”

“Because I am a magician.”

Tibalt is always the one to knock me down when I’m high on the throne, but is it helpful in this moment? If my giant ego is the thing to cure our land, it will be an asset. I won’t back down.

“Many other magicians have tried and failed.”

“But they are notme.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “You know that I will follow you, even if you lead us both to a sudden end. If you wish to break the curse alone, I’ll be at your side, pointing out the holes in your logic whenever possible.”

“Then that’s what we shall do.”

“And where will that lead us next?”

“I don’t…” I peer through the window. The moon glows like a beacon, guiding me through the dark curse. “I don’t have an answer yet, but I will soon. You must trust me.”

“I do—with my life.”

“And I trust you as well. You’ve saved me enough times that I would be a fool not to.”

At least, if all else is falling apart, I have that. I have him.