Page 154 of Crown of the Courtesan

He touches a jewel hanging on a nearby branch. “This mother tree before us is the only one ever to produce fruit. The jewels never drop and are impossible to pluck. The only time it happened, it was seen as an omen—and not a good one.”

I absorb the information, his words imprinting in my mind as he takes another step closer. There are so many more questions I want to ask. So many things left unsaid. My face flushes under his gaze. “Tabitha—” A million toxic butterflies stir in my stomach as his dangerous shift in tone prepares to poison me. “He will offer to marry you because he loves you.”

My mind reels.

Lir.

Not Rett.

Ashland interrupts my thoughts. “But I implore you to refuse him.”

My breathing stops.

Ashland has no right to choose the person I marry, no matter who it is. My voice turns sharp. “This isn’t any of your concern.”

“Think carefully about this. Could you tether your life to him with my family’s curse hanging over your head when he should be free to live his life? He’s a romantic with a soft heart. He deserves to grow old. Have babies. Relax on a beach somewhere. In the end, the curse will be the only winner here. He doesn’t deserve that.”

“Why do you care what he does with his personal life? Shouldn’t this be his choice?”

“Lir’s my friend—my chosen brother. He pulled me from the darkest of places when I thought my life wasn’t worth continuing. For that, I’ll owe him for the rest of my days, and that includes protection from himself. I won’t see him turned into my enemy.”

“You mean to protect him from me?” I ask, crossing my arms. Warmth blooms down my neck as the wool I’m wearing itches my overly hot skin.

“In a sense—yes.”

His answer hurts more than I thought it would. Tears fill my eyes, and my voice fills with contempt. “And who would you rather I choose instead?”

“Me.”

Sixty-Four

Our breath mingles in frosted plumes. “Why would I marry someone who can’t decide whether they want me dead or alive? You could murder me at any time. Fae above! How do you know I won’t kill you first? What sort of marriage would that be?” My eyes burn. I squeeze them shut, but the tears roll down my cheeks all the same.

His fingers brush my cheeks dry as he whispers, “Because we’re already bound by one curse. What’s one more?”

“You can’t just ignore reality and hope it’ll go away.”

“I’m well aware, but we can worry about the curse between our families after we take back Alexandria. After we right wrongs. The enemy of my enemy is my friend—or, in your case, potentially my lady wife.” Shadows fall from his shoulders in great swaths. He lingers on the word wife before adding, “So make me your fool husband.”

I openly scoff, rolling my eyes.

“My, my, your eyes scorn me, but not long ago you were my courtesan in name only. Going forward, you’ll be my Witch-Queen in name only as well. As you’ve reminded me before, I have no money, my castle crumbles, and my people suffer—but you will live another day at my side. I won’t be persuaded against you, and since I’ll never carry on my legacy through blood heirs, you need not burden yourself with guilt in that regard. Save your affection for those you truly desire. I’ll not bar you from taking lovers to satisfy your nights.”

I stare at him, stunned. “You don’t mind if I fuck Lir; you just don’t want me to marry him?”

Ashland gives me a hardened stare. “That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then what? What?”

“Don’t you see? We were made for each other, two mutually destructive people with a purpose to see this to the end.”

“And if you change your mind and regret this? If you grow to love someone else and I’m in the way?”

Ashland rubs his beard. “I traded love for survival long ago. It’s not something I seek. My people are my greatest concern.”

My heart aches at the quiet despair in his words. I touch his arm. “Survival doesn’t make you undeserving of love… but I don’t want to be punished when you figure that out.” I try not to think of all the lies—all the hurt—all the manipulation that built the bridge to where we stand right now.

Ashland bitterly shakes his head. “Some people are not destined to have everything in life, not when their destiny lies in something far greater.” He searches my face. “So what will it take for you to agree? Tell me what you desire, and I’ll give it to you.”