Page 92 of Of Curses and Courtship

“You give me too much credit, Your Highness. It would be silly to assume it was not you who wrote the letter.”

“Silly is not a word I would use to describe you.”

Her gaze falls. I touch her chin, forcing her face up.

Look at me with those lavender eyes. Please, witness me.

“Before you ask,” I murmur. Each word shakes past my lips. I’ve never sounded more pathetic—but gods, I’ve never needed someone as I long for her. “There are many flatteringwords I would use if one asked me to describe you, my little halfling. Striking would be one. The purple of your eyes and wings, glowing against your strawberry complexion, is one of the many reasons I love it when you lower your glamour. Your beauty struck me even when we first met, when you appeared as any mortal would, but it was nothing compared to how you look at me now.”

Her lips part. “I didn’t come here for flattery, Your Highness.”

“No. None of that. No titles, no decorum. To you, I am Emyr. I have always been Emyr.” My heart flutters. “These words aren’t easy for me to say, so please believe me when I say I am falling in love with you. You are the one who makes me believe true love may be true after all. In our short time together, you’ve become more than the object of my affection. You’ve become a dear friend and companion on this darkened journey. I’ve run for so long, before the time we met, but I can’t run from you any longer.”

“Oh, Emyr.” Her soft fingers clutch at my dampened shirt. “What about the prophecy?”

“I don’t care.” I laugh—exasperated and free after being trapped for so long. “Truly. I don’t. Running away is not an option, but perhaps it is with you, and perhaps we can flee to another palace—to Mercury or Venus, the palace of love.”

“We can’t do that.”

“I’m ready to beg and plead for you, my little halfling. I’ll get on my knees if I must. If the sorceress won’t listen, the fates and the gods must. With you, we’ll find a way to break the curse.”

“Emyr…” Her lower lip trembles. I long to capture it between my teeth, to make her mine and give myself in return.

“Yes.” Finally, I break the space between us, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Continue to whisper my name, andI’ll always be there. I could hear the word on your lips across the realms.”

“Yet you waited so long to return to me. Once again, I sound foolish—but days without you are centuries.”

“I won’t leave you again. I thought of you every moment.”

Her eyes contain a new sparkle. “And what did you think of?”

“How I adore you.” I gaze deeply into her eyes and pray to the gods that she may know what I say is true. Out of the many lies I’ve spoken in my lifetime, this is not one of them. I’m honest with her, for I can be, for she allows me to be. “That I need you.”

Her thumb brushes against my lips. “Did you ever wonder if I feel the same?”

“Yes…” I sigh softly. “But you kissed me, and that was my answer.”

“I wish to kiss you again.”

“Well…” I smirk. “If you insist.”

Before she can retort, I press my lips to hers, more certain than before. Her fingers curl into my hair and pull me in, tight enough to make me gasp, as her teeth drag along my lower lip.

I melt on the inside, readily giving myself to her.

She gasps. “Wait. There’s more we must discuss.”

“No. No more speaking.” I guide her through the maze of the garden, past barren hedges and trees.

She goes where I lead.

“We’ve spoken enough. It is time for action. Let me show you how I need you.”

“This is important, Emyr.”

I stop and force myself to meet her serious gaze. “What is it? What could possibly be more important than the mingling of our souls?”

I brush my thumb down the center of her lips, willing them to part for me.