Page 142 of Cursed Evermore

Once we'd eaten, Arielle gave me the tour of the house. I was led through passageways lined with tapestries that seemed to move when I wasn't looking directly at them, a library where books shifted shelves when you passed, as if they were organizing themselves for the next visitor. There was room upon room of breathtaking beauty. All immaculate. All touched by magic. And nothing was ordinary.

My new bedroom was as luxurious as the chambers I'd seen in King Varis's castle when I was little, and far grander than my parents' room at home. It had a massive four-poster bed in the center with sheer drapes swooping around it like captured clouds, and a wrought-iron chandelier above that added to the grand decor.

Best of all was the balcony that overlooked the view of the sea and the mountains beyond. I almost couldn't wait to have some time to myself to explore and discover what other wonders I might find in this place.

We ended the tour outside, where we sat under an ancient willow tree with sweeping branches that provided perfect shade and a magnificent view of the caves and the infinite sea.

The maids brought us fresh lemonade in crystal goblets and delicate cookies that dissolved on my tongue. I didn't realize how late it was until I looked at the ornate sundial and saw that the afternoon was almost gone.

Another day had nearly ended. It was now twenty days until my next reset. The last ten days had been the most eventful of my entire life. I couldn't imagine what the next twenty would bring in this place that spoke to my soul.

Arielle poured us both lemonade from the crystal pitcher on the silver tray and handed me a goblet.

“Thank you.” I took it and sipped, savoring the fresh citrus taste.

Arielle observed me with those knowing eyes. “You seem a lot stronger than this morning. How are you doing?”

I drew in a steady breath and thought about how I was feeling. “I can sense that I've healed substantially. The weakness and lightheadedness are practically gone.”

“Good. I was hoping that would happen.” Her smile brightened with relief, but then it faded just as quickly, as though someone had snuffed out her hope. “How are you feeling otherwise? I mean... about being here. I know it's a complicated question, but I had to ask anyway.”

I appreciated her honesty, but that question cut straight to the heart of my internal war. “I'm... conflicted.” I sighed. “I miss my family and my home desperately. I've never been away from them before. But I've always dreamed of visiting the magicalrealm. Everything is so beautiful here. And there are things I've never seen nor felt before.”

Because this is where you belong.

The remnant of Wolfe's voice hummed in my head, tugging at the edges of my heart with invisible threads. I wished I hadn't thought of him, but now that I had, I thought he was right.

Ididbelong here. But this place awakened something foreign within me and desires I'd never harbored. Like this treacherous pull I felt toward Wolfe.

I would never, ever utter such words when they didn't even make sense to me. I was under no curse nor enchantment that prevented me from remembering Wolfe's mission. The thought made my stomach clench with dread.

“There's still so much more to see and love about Galaythia.” Arielle spoke in a hushed tone, her voice smooth and reflective. “But I understand that it's not home.”

The statement pushed me back to that question of trust again. About whom to give it to. And when to give it.

Trust was harder for me, even attempting it when I knew I'd forget the relationships I'd built by the next new moon. This situation was different. Trusting the right people would lead me back to those I loved, back to my life, no matter how complicated it was.

“No. Galaythia isn't home.” The words scraped out of my throat. “And I know I'm not a guest here.”

The awkwardness in Arielle's expression was almost palpable. “I know. I wish with all my heart that the circumstances were different.”

“So do I, but they aren't. I guess I've come to realize that the only way out of this is to accept my father's crime and do what I must.” I left out the part about looking for a way to escape, but Arielle was no fool. None of them were. They already expected me to try.

“I can only imagine how hard this must be. Especially after last night.”

My gaze faltered, my eyes dropping to my lap. “The Ruskiel's trap felt like a twisted, cruel joke.” I drew in a breath, clearing the emotion that thickened my throat, and looked back at her. “It hurt because I'm closer to my grandmother than I am to my mother.”

“I was like that with my grandmother, too. I never really got the chance to be closer to my parents before they were taken from me.” She had the same lost look in her eyes as Wolfe when he’d spoken about his mother. A haunted quality that spoke of wounds that never fully healed.

“What happened?”

“They were killed when I was eight.”

I straightened, my body suddenly becoming rigid. I'd placed my foolish foot in my mouth again, just like I had with Wolfe. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to?—”

“I know. And I don't want you to feel bad. That was just me sharing. It would be awkward if we went on from here and I hadn't told you those parts about me.”

“I would have understood.”