Page 153 of Cursed Evermore

I sank into the stack of pillows behind me and stretched out against the bed.

There was a lot more to write, but I decided to stop my journaling for the day with that last line. When I got lost in my feelings, emotion took over, urging me to write for hours. Like I did last night.

After everyone had retired, I spent most of the night updating the journal with everything from the Ruskiel's attack to my little adventure with Wolfe afterward. I planned to do another update later.

Yesterday had been surprisingly wonderful. But what would today bring?

It was barely sunrise. I had several hours yet before I’d see anyone. Arielle and I were going to continue our training, so that would take up most of the day. I supposed I would see Garrick and Sirril too at some point, as both were assigned to take care of me.

As for Wolfe...

I hadn't seen him since yesterday morning, and no one had mentioned him. At least not to me. I shouldn’t have expected otherwise, but still…

I'd figured out that Arielle and the Bloodsworn shared some kind of bond—a way to contact each other without speaking. I'd glimpsed Garrick using it, and from the few words he'd traded with Arielle, I'd pieced together the rest. Each of the males bore a small black sigil on their wrist, while Arielle’s seemed to be woven under her skin. It seemed to work like an advanced version of my shackle, only theirs allowed them to send messages directly to one another.

As the day wore on, it became clear that I wouldn't see my villain. But he hadn't left my mind. Not even for one minute. A whole hour never went by without my thoughts circling back to him.

I thought I'd at least see him by nightfall, and as I stood in the garden with Garrick watching the Phantom Moon, my heart sank for the millionth time.

When Wolfe took me flying, he'd made it sound like he'd be around to show me the Phantom Moon that night. But he was nowhere to be found.

I hadn't asked for him for the same reasons as before.

What prisoner would continuously ask to see their captor? Unless they had useful information about their release—which I'd been given—there was no need for me to even speak to Wolfe.

I released a breath and pushed him right out of my mind. I wouldn't make the mistake of dwelling on Wolfe Nightblade today. I was almost certain that wherever he was, he wasn't thinking about me. Definitely not the way I was thinking about him.

Who knew? Maybe he went to see some woman.

Great plan, Elariya. Think of Wolfe with other women. That will definitely help you forget him. Not.

I rolled my eyes at my own absurdity and put my journal away.

Since I was up so early, it might be good to go for a walk around the manor on my own. Being by myself allowed me to indulge in the beautiful surroundings like a guilty pleasure. A secret between myself and me.

Feeling conflicted over being in the magical realm was hard enough, but having Arielle watch me fall in love with the place increased my guilt a hundred-fold.

At least she'd humored me by not pointing it out.

I slipped off the bed and tested my body. Though there was a slight ache in my chest, it was nothing to complain about. I was definitely stronger than even yesterday.

I made my way to the curtains to draw them open, but they moved on their own without a visible hand to guide them. My breath stilled as I watched them gathering on either side of the window, then hooking themselves onto the brass holdbacks with a sentient grace that made my skin prickle with excitement.

Wolfe had enchanted the bathtub on the ship, but I'd learned that nearly everything at Vyrenth Hollow was imbued with enchantments.

Candles flared to life the moment light dimmed. Fireplaces kindled as soon as someone entered a room. Doors opened and closed on their own, and the halls shifted to lead you wherever you wished to go. This was the first time I'd seen the curtains move. And my, what a beautiful sight lay before me.

Sunlight spilled across the land like a golden river, kissing the trees and the distant mountains with its own quiet magic. I drifted closer, resting my hands on the window ledge as I drank it all in. There was nothing not to love. Every detail seemed to fuse with my senses, as if the land itself had been waiting for me.

Gods be good, I wanted to see it all.

I tore myself away from the window with newfound excitement and went to the wardrobe to grab the casual clothing I'd worn yesterday. But I was surprised to find it full of clothes. It had been practically empty last night with only the few pieces I'd brought from the ship. Now there was everything from dresses to pants, tunics and blouses. The drawers on the side were full of underwear and silky nightdresses. All incredibly beautiful.

My gaze dropped to the base and I found rows of boots, each more beautiful than the last. “Gods... this is...Amazing.”

I had good clothes at home, but everything here was a million times better and prettier.

Surely Arielle hadn't given me all of these. It was too much.