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How close I came to a terrible fate. Without Forrest…

My hand shook, and I let out a small whimper.

Rosie hopped up to me, nudging the cup gently toward me. "You heard the master, drink up. It’ll help."

I accepted the cup of tea. Blossoms floated at the top. One sip and the effects are immediate. I felt ever-so-slightly calmer.

It occurred to me that Forrest could dose me with this at every meal… and worse. But he clearly didn’t. That confused me. I didn’t have room for that thought right now, so I pushed it down.

"Now, tell me what happened," Rosie said calmly. "Talking always helps."

A few days ago, I would have said nothing. Turned my head. Ignored her. Ignored the book. But now, I knew I could not. Rosie had been nothing but kind to me. She was the only confidant I had here, in this new world. And tonight had made it abundantly clear, I could not do this on my own.

I wouldn’t survive.

CHAPTER 15

The Fae King

Later that night, Harry found me in my bedroom, downing my third goblet of faerie wine. The wisps hovered above my bed, strobing beautiful colors, a light show for my inebriated self. Every few minutes, I would remember I was angry at them and try to swat them away.

When Harry knocked, I conjured a gust of ocean air to blow the wisps out the window.

Eyeing the window, Harry waved his hand and vines crawled up the wall and bound the windows closed. "I take it you’re having a bad evening," he said.

I looked at him and sighed. "Nothing is going to plan."

"Care to elaborate?"

"We’re engaged. I’ve brought her to the island. Yet, I’m still cursed. What does this wretched magic require? A formal wedding ceremony? A tumble in the sheets? Her love? My love?" The last one was unthinkable. How could I ever love a human?

Harry was quiet as he let me think out loud.

"She nearly got herself killed tonight," I groaned.

Harry stopped nodding along. "What?"

"The Unseelie Queen."

"No," he moaned."She hasn’t been sighted in decades."

I let out a deep sigh. "She wore a crown of bones. I’m sure."

"Thank goodness you reached Georgia in time." He shuddered. "The Unseelie Queen is not a pretty fate."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, feeling stress in every nook and cranny on my body. "I’ve given her my family’s Book of Iron."

Harry looked taken aback. "Really?"

I was pacing now, but I couldn’t help it. "What else can I do? I can’t very well cage her in these rooms, and I certainly can’t be with her every hour of the day. If she’s going to survive, she needs to be smarter. She has no idea what she’s up against, what we’re up against. The unseelie have no rules."

Harry was studying me, quietly and carefully.

I was frustrated, waiting for his reply. I had just unloaded everything, and he was still quiet. "So, what do I do? I’m no closer to breaking this curse than I was a week before she arrived."

He gave me the slightest smile. "Why not get to know her a little better? Perhaps, if you’re lucky, she’ll simply lift the curse herself."

"Another wasted hope, I’m afraid. There’s no way that girl is a witch. You should have seen her out there. She was utterly helpless."