Page 115 of Cursed Evermore

Arielle sighed and gave me a small smile. “Get some rest, Elariya. We’re gonna need it for tomorrow. I imagine Wolfe will want to get down to business the moment we dock in Galaythia.”

The reminder of the spell made my stomach drop. “Right. Okay.”

“See you in the morning.”

“See you.”

She dipped her head and left. Once the door closed behind her I felt oddly hopeful. Our meeting had been a positive step and I had the tonic to help me. Feeling my magic again would be a comfort. I was lost without it.

I uncorked the vial and drank deeply. The taste was neither sweet nor sour, just peculiar. Like licorice that people pretended to enjoy out of tradition rather than pleasure.

I ate the food Arielle left for me and decided I needed a long bath. I’d do some more journalling after then head to bed. I didn’t know what time we’d be arriving in Galaythia tomorrow so it was better to get as much as I could done tonight.

I made my way into the bath chamber and took off my clothes. Before I even reached the large soapstone bathtub it filled with hot water, heated to perfection by whatever magic ran through this ship. It was a luxury I couldn't help but appreciate despite my circumstances.

While I'd been in here to use the facilities and wash my face, I'd only discovered the magical bathtub last night when I finally felt like I needed to clean myself properly.

At home, we had a wooden bathtub and it would have taken the servants at least an hour to heat enough water for a proper bath. Even then it was never truly satisfying, lukewarm at best by the time they'd hauled enough buckets up to my chamber.

Here, I simply approached the bath and steaming water appeared. I supposed it was basic magic to everyone else onboard the ship but to me it was another fascination to add to my list.

I sank into the gloriously hot water and savored the heat seeping into my bones, melting away the tension I'd been carrying since being on this ship.

For a few blissful moments, I allowed myself to forget where I was and the danger that still surrounded me. I let the water work its magic, hoping it would wash away the phantom echoes of my many encounters with Wolfe.

The heat soothed my weary body, but it did nothing to quiet my thoughts of him. If anything, being alone with my mind only made them louder, more insistent.

Those sinful smiles. Those lengthened canines. Those devastating words. All of them filled my head.

“I don't want you to forget me.”The memory of his deep voice rumbled through my mind, sending me spiraling deeper into forbidden territory.

What a dangerous thing to say to me. My treacherous mind and body clung to every syllable of those words, replaying them until they burned themselves into my memory.

It was foolish and reckless to even entertain such thoughts, but I couldn't stop myself. Today's encounter had felt different. Like we'd stepped outside reality and he'd become someone else entirely. Not the terrifying captor who'd stolen me from my family, or the man seeking vengeance against my father. He was just... Wolfe.

I shook my head, banishing the treacherous thoughts. Closing my eyes, I willed my mind to silence. The last thing I needed was to feed this attraction to a man who was nothing but beautiful destruction. Nothing but ruin could come of such dangerous desires.

I stayed in the bath for a few hours, soaking away the day as night fell completely. When I got out, I felt slightly better.

I wrapped myself in one of the fluffy white towels on the rack, securing it with a tight tuck at my chest. I pulled my damphair back in a ponytail and padded into the bedroom. But the moment I walked in I froze.

Wolfe leaned against the window, his hair swept back in a style similar to mine. He was dressed in his usual all-black attire. Candlelight and moonlight framed his dark silhouette, drawing my attention to his high cheekbones and muscular frame. Then I noticed my journal lying open in his hands, his eyes moving deliberately across the page. He was reading it.

A gasp tore from my throat before I could stop it. He looked up at the sound and that familiar smile curved his lips.

“Ziyka.”

“You’re reading my journal?” I marched over to him.

“Just the juicy parts about me,” he drawled, his voice a deadly mixture of silk and sin.

Asshole.I knew he would try something like this. I’d just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon.

“Don’t you have any decency or respect for privacy?”

“My Lady I assure you there is nothing respectful ordecentabout me.” His heated gaze dropped to my body and it was only then I remembered I wore nothing but a towel.

Mortification burned through me and I gasped, clutching the towel to my chest. I prayed it hadn't come loose in my frantic haste to get to him.