Page 204 of Cursed Evermore

“Oh Gods, really?”

“Yes, really. It's not the best place to go if you're planning something scandalous involving a love interest or a rival.”

I laughed out loud. It felt like I shed something heavy with that sound, and I let her pull me forward, deeper into the glowing halls of Hyxian, into a future that, for once, didn't feel so far out of reach.

I pushed my guilt to the back of my mind.

And this time, I planned to leave it there.

Chapter 40

Elariya

“Through the Veins of Galaythia”

The elk-drawn carriage swayed gently as we rode beneath a lilac sky streaked with the final blush of day. Not quite dusk. Not quite full evening, either. It was dancing between that space where everything shimmered with soft possibility, like the realm hadn't quite decided whether to sleep or dream.

Arielle sat across from me, her legs curled under her and a bundle of the colorful candle jars we'd gotten from the apothecary stacked on her lap. The scent of rosehip and neroli filled the air, layered with juniper and spice.

Outside the wide crystal windows, Galaythia passed us by in golds, greens, and pale blue mist. The forests grew wild out here, branches arcing like arms that reached for the heavens, tipped in leaves that sparkled faintly with residual magic.

We'd done so much today it felt like living out a fantasy.

The library had beenamazingand the highlight of the day.

It had multiple levels and dozens of spiraling floors with every book a person could think of on every topic imaginable.

There were books about ancient spells that had been lost for centuries, forbidden rituals that made my skin prickle, and prophecies written in languages that shifted on the page. There were books about distant realms I'd never heard of, creatures that existed only in shadow, and histories of wars fought between gods and men and immortal beings. There were books about brewing love potions, summoning storms, the anatomy of dragons, and the secret lives of stars.

There was everything and more. Some books even had personalities of their own. One even tried to bite Arielle when she teased it about having a dull title.

I'd spent ages in the section on magical healing, running my fingers along the spines of tomes that felt like they'd been waiting for me to read them for a lifetime.

After we left the library, we spent some time on the grounds of Hyxian before we headed to the capital for our next adventure.

Arielle took me on a whirlwind tour of her favorite places, which started with the enchanted district, where shops lined cobblestone streets that glowed with embedded starlight.

We wandered through the bustling market squares where street performers made flowers bloom from thin air and musicians played melodies that painted colors in the sky.

We visited a boutique where I got a silk gown for Wolfe's uncle's name day celebration next week. Once we were done, we stopped by a bookshop café where the tea leaves read your fortune as you sipped. We sampled exotic foods, watched artisans craft jewelry from crystallized moonbeams, and ended with the apothecary where the proprietor mixed custom perfumes and scented candles.

Every experience from today, each scent and sight and sparkling thread of wonder, had woven into my heart. I couldn'ttell if they belonged to me or I belonged to them. But perhaps the most magical thing of all was how I fit in.

The capital was filled with Fae folk and mages from different realms. I felt the sweet relief of blending in rather than standing out.

“Smell this one,” Arielle said, holding up a pale green candle.

I leaned forward and inhaled. It smelled like eucalyptus and fresh herbs, with a clean healing quality that made my shoulders relax instantly. “I love this scent.”

“It's for clarity of mind. Perfect for studying or making big life decisions. Apparently, you just burn it, and you'll know what to do.”

“Have you ever used it?”

She shook her head. “No. I'm always scared such decisions will be influenced by magic, not me.”

“That makes sense.”

She cracked the lid off a rich red candle and gave me a mischievous grin. “This one's for passion, obviously.”