Page 33 of Cursed Evermore

“Mattieu has also offered to triple the resources he’ll be sending us this spring and is sending men to rebuild our army.”

This gave me pause. They had been in discussion about the terms of our marriage, but that was quite substantial. And to rebuild the army, too…

Father would be more than grateful for Mattieu’s kindness. It made me feel like an ungrateful child.

It was because of Mattieu that we’d been able to eat and survive for the last five years. All the money we had went torebuilding after the storms that caused damage to most of the property. Then after the storms came crimson vein fever from the infected water. It killed most of the staff. After that, we got in debt, and Mother had to put the manor up as collateral.

We may live in this manner, have servants, and a beautiful carriage with pedigree Shire horses, but all of that came from Mattieu and Thayden.

Sometimes I’m thankful that I don’t remember any of it, but I know that’s the coward’s way out.

“It sounds good, Mother. Sounds like we truly won’t have to worry about our financial situation anymore.”

She nodded slowly, the color returning to her cheeks. “Or devils like

Chancellor Blackthorneand Friar Jameson.”

“That’s the best part.”

“They’ll be at the engagement celebrations tonight, though. And the wedding. They want to be witnesses.”

“Of course, they do.”Bastards.I hoped that someday they’d get a good comeuppance.

“They can’t take anything away from us now. We just have to stick to the plan.”

“Sure.” I swallowed hard, and she tightened her grip on my wrist.

“I’m sorry. I know you think I’ve given up on your father.”

“But you have.” My retort held more sting than I intended. I couldn’t help it, though. I wasn’t sure she understood how trapped I felt. My family were the only people who could help me, the only ones I could rely on. Now I didn’t even have that.

“I understand why you feel that way. But everyone has done everything they could. Even at the risk of breaking the magical laws. I don’t know what else we can do.”

I blew out a strained breath, and she released my hand, sitting straighter. A sign that the lighthearted mood hadchanged. “At least it looks like we don’t have to worry about the wraith. Your portaling also appears to have gone unnoticed. Your grandmother believes it was cloaked by the mystic energy of the moon.”

“I’m sorry for the danger that could have caused us.”

“Let’s just move past it. I’m sure you’ve learned your lesson and won’t do anything like that again. Especially when you’re in Zyvaris.”

“I won’t.”

She raised a sharp brow. “Have you made your notes?”

“I have.”

I hadn’t written about last night yet, but I got everything down in detail up to the point where I woke from myportaling coma.

My notes would ensure my future self knew what I’d done, and the danger I’d caused. But I felt sorry for the heartbreak and disappointment that version of myself would experience when she found out I’d come close to finding a solution but failed.

“We’ll visit on the eve of the next memory reset. We plan to do so for as long as we can. I’m sure our presence won’t be needed eventually. Thayden will get used to your needs and will know what to do.”

My reservations about Thayden would always be there, but even I didn’t think it wasokayto expect him to get used to me and my curse. I didn’t even think it was okay for my family.

Whatever happened, I needed to be able to take care of myself. I couldn’t rely on anyone. I was getting older. I’d be twenty-one in the autumn. When the curse first took its effect, I was fifteen. I was a woman now. A woman who knew she wanted more from life than being controlled.

“Thank you for thinking so far ahead.” I nodded my gratitude.

“You don’t have to thank me for that. We all want to support you the best way we can. I just need you to stay away from magic in any shape or form.”