Page 37 of Between These Broken Hearts (Cursed Stars #2)

“She’s fae,” a woman croaks behind Hector, stepping out of the shadows where she was hidden before. She’s thick in the hips

and waist and has the keen eyes of someone who’s spent most of their life on guard. “The Eloran queen was always a human.”

“That’s Loryn,” Kendrick says, “Hector’s wife. Loryn, this is Princess Jasalyn.”

Hector flashes Loryn a look that speaks of years of frequent exasperation. “Do you ignore all the gossip about Faerie? This

girl is the first human Faerie princess.”

“But she’s not human for long. She’s a descendant of Mab.” She turns an apologetic expression toward me. “Sorry, child. It’s

not personal. It’s tradition.”

“It’s fine,” I whisper, dropping my gaze back to the ground when I spot Kendrick watching me.

“It’s a dumb tradition,” Hector says. “Don’t you think the monarchy would’ve been stronger if the king and queen had been

able to age together? If they’d been able to choose each other because of love and not because of some prediction by the oracle?”

“You don’t get to pick and choose which traditions we keep just because your friend is lusting after some hot young princess.”

She wrinkles her nose at me. “Again, no offense, darling.”

I open my mouth, but I don’t know how to reply. I don’t know what’s worse—this man wishing things for me that can never be, this woman pitying me for what she believes to be the reason Kendrick and I can’t be together, or the look in Kendrick’s eyes because he knows the truth.

Before I can figure out a response, Skylar speaks up. “She is hot, isn’t she? It’s the haircut. Pretty damn good, if I say so myself. And the clothes, for which I can also be given all

the credit.”

“We’ve had a long day,” Kendrick tells Hector. “Could you show us to Amelia’s?”

“What am I thinking?” He shakes his head and waves us toward the road. “The ley line is just a few blocks this way.”

“Ley line?” I ask Kendrick as the group begins to follow.

“Ley lines are paths of magical power that run through the realm and can quickly take you from one point to another without

you having to physically travel that distance.”

“Like a portal,” I say.

Hector flashes me an endearing smile. “Ah, but unlike a portal, the ley line is part of the earth, which means the Seven can’t

take it away.”

“That’s incredible.” I frown. “But why didn’t you just tell my sister we’d be using ley lines so she didn’t have to worry

about us being so far from Fairscape?”

“We don’t make it a habit to share all our secrets,” Remme says, “especially not with those from Faerie. Though if I were to choose someone to trust with them,

your sister would be high on the list.”

“Right there,” Hector says, pointing to a maple tree on the side of the road. “Walk just to the left of the tree but so close

your shoulder brushes the bark.”

“I’ll go first,” Skylar says, jumping ahead of us.

I watch as she walks along the left side of the tree, her shoulder rubbing against it, and then she’s gone. Natan follows, and then Remme.

“You go next, and I’ll be right behind,” Kendrick says.

I roll my shoulders back and copy the others, brushing the tree so close it scratches my skin. I expect it to feel like goblin

travel—the stomach flipping and world spinning—but it’s as if I just walked by the tree and my surroundings suddenly changed.

The roads here are stone and the streets have oil lanterns along them.

Remme grins. “Kind of cool, yeah?”

“So cool,” I agree, returning his smile.

The others join us and Hector jogs to the front of the group, hurrying us along, but Loryn walks backward and scans the group

again. “Your glamours—are those from mage magic?”

Kendrick nods. “Natan cooked up more of his potion.”

Hector nods approvingly. “Good. The Seven are more sensitive than ever to the use of elven magic. I’ve seen people dragged

away for as little as a minor lighting spell. Be on your guard. It’s not worth using anything that might put you in their

sights.”

“Noted,” Kendrick says as Loryn bounces up the steps of a modest two-story cottage.

She opens the door and waves us inside, where a woman is standing at the stove and the smell of stew fills the warm space

and makes it feel cozy.

“Amelia!” Skylar shouts, and the woman turns away from the stove and toward us.

She’s beautiful. Nearly as tall as Kendrick, with dark hair and smiling eyes.

The full figure beneath her leather pants and vest looks like it’s been trained for fighting, and I’m instantly a little jealous of the aura of strength and competency she exudes.

“You made it!” She drops a spoon on the counter and rushes toward us, hugging everyone eagerly before finally making it to

me.

I stiffen as she looks me over, gaze flitting down my body and back up before focusing on my face. I wish I’d asked Natan

to glamour away my scar. I’m not up for explaining it to a stranger.

“No wonder he’s in love with you.” She grins, shaking her head. “You’re stunning. Your babies will be heartbreakers.”

Confused, I look back and forth between her and Kendrick. “I’m sorry. I think you might have me confused for someone else.”

Like Crissa. Like his queen.

She levels Kendrick with a look. “Did you bring some other woman to my house? This isn’t Jasalyn?”

Kendrick’s cheeks are tinged pink. “Jasalyn, this is Amelia. She’s known for her melt-in-your-mouth meals, her mean right

hook, and her inappropriate comments.”

“Don’t forget my beautiful hand-stitched clothing,” she says, then to me adds, “I sell them in the storefront next door.”

“Indeed,” Kendrick says. “Amelia, this is Jasalyn, who hasn’t yet come around to the idea of having my babies so maybe cool

it on that for a few years so you don’t scare her off?”

My stomach does some sort of flip-flop tumble maneuver that leaves me feeling a little lightheaded. “Sorry. I thought maybe

you expected...” I swallow. I don’t want to say her name.

Amelia squeezes my shoulder. “He was a mess when they couldn’t find you. Glad you’re okay.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Could you tell me where we can wash up before dinner?” Kendrick asks.

“Top of the stairs, first door on the left,” Amelia says.

“Hale can take the room on the far end of the hall,” Loryn says.

“Hush, woman.” Hector nudges his wife with an elbow. “He can sleep wherever he pleases.”

She grunts, and Amelia turns her attention to me. “Bathing chamber is on the opposite side of the hall. We all share. I apologize

I can’t offer you better.”

I hate that my shadow court title makes her feel like she needs to. “You’re offering more than enough. I grew up sharing a

bathing chamber with my cousins and sister—and my sister and I were only allowed to use it when our cousins were out of the

house. This will be more than sufficient.”

Hector’s eyes soften. “What a sweet girl.”

Kendrick intertwines his fingers with mine, and I let him lead me up the stairs and into the room Amelia indicated would be

mine. It’s small but it has a big window behind the bed. There are plenty of candles for light while I sleep. I should feel

safe enough if Kendrick wants to save Loryn the aggravation by sleeping in his own room.

He drops his satchel on the floor in the corner and then shuts the door. “I’m sorry about Loryn. She means well, but she’s

toeing the line. I’ll talk to her.”

“You don’t need to do that,” I murmur, but I’m distracted. The room seems familiar to me, and at first I can’t place it. “You

brought me here. After I confronted Erith and you found me in the rubble of my old house.”

“We needed somewhere safe in Elora, and I knew Amelia would accommodate us.”

“But she didn’t know me. She wasn’t here?”

“Not that day, which is for the best. She would’ve lost her cool at the chance to meet your sister. She’s completely enamored

with the idea of an Eloran human rising to power in Faerie and thinks your sister is the quintessential badass.”

I smile. “Well, I can’t blame her for that. Do Hector and Loryn live here too?”

He shrugs. “They stay sometimes, but this is Amelia’s home. They are emissaries for the movement, so they go from town to

town in Elora to check in with our people and keep things organized.” He digs a piece of chalk from his satchel and walks

to the corner, marking something on the wall.

“What kind of things?”

“Killing Erith is only the first step to putting the realm to rights,” he says, moving to another corner. “We have a long

fight ahead of us, so it’s vital that we keep our supporters in the loop—letting them know what to expect and how they can

help.” He moves to the third corner and I realize he’s drawing runes on the walls.

“What are those for?” I ask.

“It’s a barrier to keep unwanted guests out of this room. In Faerie I’d just use my own magic to create wards around us, but

here it’s safer to use mage magic.”

I want to ask if he always warded the spaces where I slept when we were together, but I already know the answer. Kendrick’s protected me from the day we met. “I didn’t expect your friends here to know about me,” I admit.

After marking the final corner, he wanders to the window and stares out for a long time before answering. When he finally

does, all he says is “They care about me, and I care about you.” He looks me over one last time, as if he’s trying to convince

himself I’ll be safe here without him. “Natan and I need to run out to see someone, but we’ll be back in time for dinner.”

He heads through the door, and I blurt, “I don’t want them thinking I’m a threat to their queen.”

He turns around slowly and leans on the doorjamb, scanning my face. “I’ve never wanted to fight for anything the way I was

willing to fight for Elora.”

“I know. And they know that too. I just want you to know, I won’t ruin—”

“But that was before you. Everything’s different now.”

Everything in my chest twists tight. It’s hope I have no right to hold on to. “Kendrick...”

“You’re fighting for your life, and there is nothing that’s more important than that. That’s why I haven’t pushed this thing

between us.” He swallows. “But, for the record, I reject any future that doesn’t include you. I’m not willing to give you

up, not so long as you’ll have me.”

I stride across the room and tuck my hand into his belt to tug him forward.

Rising onto my toes and pressing my mouth to his, I slide my hand behind his neck, and he slides his behind my back.

He’s warm and soft, and his kiss makes me believe this will all be okay.

We will find the witch and undo the deal.

We will find a way to save Elora from the tyranny of the Seven that doesn’t require me to watch the male I love marry someone else.

Kendrick angles his mouth over mine and pulls me closer. I melt into him and brush my tongue against his. He groans, removing

the hand I’ve slid up into his shirt and against his warm skin without thinking.

I laugh and pull away. “Sorry.”

“Never apologize for that.” He leans back in to nip at my bottom lip, then backs out the door, dimples flashing just long

enough to promise soon .