Page 56 of The Curse of Indy Moore (The Cursed Duology #1)

Where Indy Reaches for Her Wants

Nothing changed about the Misty Woodlands save my memories of a once haven turned nightmare. Mr. Hawthorne and I stood side by side, peering into the glade of growing shadow. The sun lowered to crest upon the horizon, warning of my final change.

Mr. Hawthorne reached toward the forest. His hand met an invisible force that zapped him. He retreated to hide the smoking fingertips against his chest.

I took his hand. “Are you alright?”

His fingers curled against mine. They were so warm and shocked me in an entirely different manner.

“I fear I cannot go with you. She suspects you are coming and has defended herself. It’s more an annoyance, though if I tried more than that, she would do far worse.

” Maintaining our hold, he stepped closer, or maybe I moved toward him.

“I am sorry you must face her alone, but you are capable of this.”

“I know,” I said, and I believed it.

He heard it in my voice based on his proud smile that warmed me more than words could.

They warned me of this, that Carline could protect herself strongly enough to prevent anyone from joining me. I hoped they were thinking of the worst case scenario. However, I knew I could do this without him.

We shared a glance toward the horizon, where the sun descended further. I didn’t doubt that once I walked into the woodlands, Carline would ensure I found her with ease, but I had to get going before I lost my opportunity.

Heaving a breath, I faced the forest. He interlocked our fingers, bringing me back to his alluring eyes that were too green to belong to anyone.

“Indy, I…” He clenched his eyes shut as Slate flew overhead, mirroring our fears with his insistent cawing. “I should tell you…”

“You called me Indy,” I interrupted.

His eyes widened, and his grip tightened. “A lapse of judgement. I apologize.”

“You can call me Indy. I would like you to.” Especially when he said my name like that, hardly a whisper uttered from his lips.

“Indy,” he repeated with that imperfect smile. “I am sorry.”

“For what?”

The back of my hand touched his chest. I hadn’t realized how close we were until his breath hit my cheeks. I wasn’t sure if I felt his heart racing against my skin or if it was my own pulse, thrumming through me so viciously I could hardly hear anything else.

“Perhaps I should have listened to the sovereign and given your case to an experienced demonologist. They may have had this settled by now, and you wouldn’t have to… You wouldn’t be going in there alone.”

He looked at my lips when I spoke, and it was maddening. “You brought in Professor Kumir, who by all accounts is the best option. I don’t know what has gotten into you, but it is so odd to hear you dejected. I can’t believe I have to admit that I prefer your usual confidence. ”

“As do I, but it is the truth, and should anything go wrong, it is entirely my fault.” Mr. Hawthorne scowled when Slate descended on his shoulder to peck at his hair.

“This is Carline’s fault entirely. Regardless of what happens, please know that I’m grateful for everything you and the others have done.”

“Grateful,” he scoffed. The frown lines upon his typically calm features deepened. He swatted Slate off his shoulder when the crow cawed again. “You must put some level of blame on me. I promised to handle the situation and haven’t lived up to those promises.”

Consciously or not, he rubbed the back of my hand, and I returned the gesture. “We don’t know that yet.”

He pursed his lips. “I am trying to get you to scold me for even a moment. Why is that so difficult for you?”

“I dislike the idea of doing anything simply because you want me to. It goes against my nature.”

His smile made my toes curl. When he spoke, his voice rang low and soothing, “I guess it does, though I find that far too endearing about you.” He brought my hand to his lips.

I gasped at the soft brush of his mouth, shivering as I felt him breathe me in deeply.

“Promise to come back to me perfectly well.”

“Specifically to you?”

His lips never left my hand, lingering there so his words heated my skin. “Entirely to me.”

“I promise, Rooke.”

His eyes searched mine, and I wondered what he saw. “I like the way you say my name.”

“I say it no differently than anyone else.”

“And yet, it sounds better than ever before. Say it again.” Our hands fell between us, where his heart raced entirely in tune with mine.

“Didn’t I just say I dislike doing anything because you want me to?”

“What if I begged? ”

I would combust on the spot, seeing as the mere mention of it brought such heat that a blush crept over me from my head to my toes.

“Speak my name. Please, Indy. Let me hear my name on your lips once more.”

His name swelled from my breast, released in a quiet breath. “Rooke.”

His other hand caught my waist, bringing me closer, like the sun and moon eternally moving through our skies and never meeting, save on those rare days where the moon blessed a blue horizon.

He didn’t let go. I didn’t pull away. The sun sat lower, our time running out.

I wasn’t sure what he wanted because time and time again I thought I knew, and he’d pull away.

“I thought waiting would be best. You are under enough stress as is, but you know I am a greedy man.”

“The greediest,” I said, and he laughed.

He somehow pressed closer, teasing what I wanted more than air. “I am greedy for you and all that you are and all that you will be. I fear my reasoning for inviting you to Ivory House is entirely selfish.”

“But you are a very selfish man.”

“I hope you don’t dislike that selfish man.”

“Not even a little. In fact, I like him quite a bit, and maybe he could teach me a thing or two about being selfish.”

“Oh, you will be rotten when he’s through with you,” he said when releasing my waist to finally grasp me by the neck.

I closed my eyes before we kissed. It was the first rain, the first snow, the first bloom in spring, everything grand and magical in that blissful moment.

The touch of his lips felt like the magic he weaved, that magic coursing through me to make my skin break out with goosebumps.

Then there was a moment when we broke apart, and he looked at me like he worried I would shut the door he opened, but I ran to him instead.

I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close, yearning to feel his mouth on mine for every sunrise until our last. Rooke clung with the ferocity he was known for, and suddenly, I wasn’t so worried about being an addition to his Ivory House, so long as he always held me like he wanted nothing more in the world.

When we separated that time, there was a smile and a laugh that tickled our lips. Rooke settled another kiss upon my mouth that wanted to learn every part of him, to taste his laughter and feel his smiles and know what my name felt like breathed against me.

“Make this quick, won’t you? I’ve waited long enough for a kiss from you. I cannot fathom waiting much longer for another,” he whispered.

“I don’t know. I think I could wait,” I teased, laughing when his hand fell to my waist to hold tight.

“You are going to be my ruin.” Then he cast his gaze upward, where the sky darkened, warning of our time running out.

He released me with a reluctance that had his fingers trailing along my waist. “You are the strongest person I have ever known, Indy. Do not let her make you believe otherwise for even a moment.”

“I won’t.”

He kissed my hand one last time.

With hope in my heart and Rooke’s taste on my lips, I fled into the woods while clutching the pendant.

The mist bled around me, carpeting the forest floor.

I saw nothing below my waist. The trees loomed, their branches hanging low like splintered bones.

A chill rose, and with it came the snow.

Little by little, the world grew white. Snow crunched under my boots.

I hugged my stomach, keeping as much warmth as I could.

Dying light cut through the trees, an endless sea of them, until I found myself on a path.

The trees stood like soldiers guiding the way into a familiar meadow.

The cottage hadn’t changed. Candles illuminated the frosted windows, little specks of beckoning light that would fool all.

The porch stood slightly crooked. Snow piled on the roof and around the house, where wolves emerged, their eyes watchful.

I approached carefully, sensing the wolves wouldn’t attack.

Carline expected me to accept her deal, and I would let her continue believing that.

I entered the cottage that had forgone the dresses and jewels.

All else remained the same, simply furnished with a fire roaring in the hearth.

Carline sat on the couch sewing a dress.

She didn’t offer me a glance, focused on her work instead.

“Carline, I am here to discuss our deal,” I said while shutting the door and locking it.

The wolves could break through if they wanted. I understood that now, but it still gave me a moment longer to get this done.

Laughter erupted from the world itself. The cottage creaked beneath her power.

The fire stopped flickering, suspended in time.

The confidence that had grown diminished in the face of her.

She smiled with her wicked teeth, standing with the light illuminating her back, leaving her face in shadow.

She had such power to her that one could taste it on their tongue, like metal and earth.

“There is nothing to discuss, my dear. You may accept my deal willfully, or fight until the last moment, and your family will receive nothing,” she said gleefully, so confident in her abilities that she couldn’t fathom me as a threat.