Page 265 of Cursed Evermore

“That means a lot to me.”

“Maybe more to me.” His voice roughened. “If I could keep us locked in these past days, I would.”

“What’s happening, Wolfe? You’re worrying me.”

He exhaled slowly. “Don’t worry.” He tried to look positive, but his shoulders slumped.

“Please tell me what’s going on.”

“The Heartflame crystals I ordered will be ready by tonight. So, we can attempt the spell again tomorrow. The crystals are rare, infused with the echoes of an Aetherflame dragon’s roar. When activated, the vibration they produce anchors spells that cross dimensions and planes of existence.”

Hope flared in my chest. “But that sounds good.

“It is.” His thumb traced my jaw. “Theoretically, it’s foolproof. We’ll repeat what we did before, but the dragon’s magic in the crystals should shatter whatever barrier has been blocking us from finding the ring.”

“But…” I searched his face. “You sound like something is wrong.”

His silence was heavier than the darkness outside. “It may not work, Elariya. I’m prepared for that. And for what we’ll have to try next. But the truth is…” He swallowed hard. “I’m running out of options. We all are.”

“Then we’ll just keep trying.” I tried to sound positive. “And it may work. The spell just might work.”

A flicker of a smile played on his lips, but it was gone before it could fully form. “Indeed. Either way, there are still some matters I have to consider.”

Like my father. My dear, dear father who loved me so much he’d do anything for me.

My father had killed Wolfe’s, and if we found the ring, he needed to be dealt with. I just didn’t want him to die.

Gods…I was such a hypocrite. Look at me, sitting on Wolfe’s lap, still thinking of saving my father when his was dead. I was sleeping with him, my enemy, and I was so lost in him I never wanted to find my way back.

Wolfe gazed at me, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hide the conflict warring within me from his sight.

“There’s a lot to consider,” I breathed, my voice whisper soft.

“There is, but the essential things remain unchanged.”

“Essentials? Like… what?” My heart sped with trepidation for his answer.

“That I’m selfish.” His stare pinned me in place. “I’m selfish when it comes to you.”

I swallowed past the lump clogging my throat. “That’s not such a bad thing. Maybe I want you to be selfish with me.”

“It’s not a good thing, Elariya.” He shook his head slowly, unyielding. “You could have someone better. Someone safer. A mortal man. Or a gentle mage with a kind heart who’d give you a life free of ruin. But I want you for myself.”

“Wolfe…”

"I mean it, Ziyka. I don't want someone safer for you. Everything between us has changed, and I should set you free…” He paused for a beat. “I should release that shackle from your wrist and set you free, but I can't. Iwon't. Even Hades gave Persephone some freedom, but I want you so tangled in my darkness you can't find the way out."

My heart warmed, and every desire I had for him stirred with need. Maybe greed because I craved him just as much as he wanted me.

"What if I wanted that? What if I already want to be with you? What if I wanted to keep my shackle because I always want to feel you?” I pressed my palm against his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my touch. “I don't want safer, Wolfe. Or easier. Maybe I'd rather be yours in the dark than belong to anyone else in the light."

Something raw and desperate flashed in his eyes, like he’d been holding his breath for centuries and could finally exhale.

“If I’m what you want, then you can’t be my prisoner anymore. You’d have to be something more to me.”

My heart stuttered. “What would that be?”

His thumb brushed my jaw, lingering over my skin. “You’d be my lady. Lady of the dragons. Lady of this manor and everything that breathes in my world, including my heart.”