Page 31

“I am sure Daisy’s mother, like my aunt, will be fine, Reverend,” she said with a sharp smile, “They weren’t the kind of people who would go around harassing grieving family members, you see.”

The man’s mouth tightened at her rebuke, before transforming into a smooth mask, a dangerous glint in his eyes. It was then that she noticed that a small crowd of people had started to form, most of them pretending (unsuccessfully) not to listen.

“Your Aunt—Maeve, was it?—I remember her. A unique individual. Although, I must say, Miss Rose. Even she would be shocked at your actions.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Why, your charming houseguest, of course.” He stretched his lips into a diabolical smile, and she knew then why he had had such a victorious expression on his face.

“The young scholar who rented a room at the inn only to never really live there. Now, I would not dream of judging anyone, but some might call such behavior…well… loose .”

A gasp went up, the people around them having completely dropped the pretense of not listening .

“You overstep Reverend,” she hissed, cheeks flushed with anger. “I don’t know about your city customs, but here in Glenn we are not quite so close minded.”

It was not strictly untrue. While people would raise their eyebrows, or shake their head in disapproval at a man staying at the home of an unmarried woman, especially one who he was not courting, there would be no outright censure.

In fact, it was not uncommon for engaged couples to begin cohabiting before marriage.

It was one of the traditions that had not been completely stamped out by the preachers.

He raised his hands up, with a faux worried expression on his face. “I was simply concerned, Miss Rose. A young girl living alone with a man from the city—I was worried you were being taken advantage of.”

“At least he doesn’t go around propositioning and harassing every vulnerable young woman he comes across,” she said with a razor sharp smile to match his.

The whispers around them grew, and the reverend dropped his pretense, his eyes burning with hatred.

“It’s a pity,” he said, his eyes smoldering with rage, “that you have chosen to live the same godless life your shrew of an aunt lived.”

Her vision went blurry with anger. How dare he.

“You don’t deserve to speak my aunt’s name, you lecherous, duplicitous fraud.”

She spat at his feet.

One of the older men, sensing the escalation, stepped forward.

“Now see here, Reverend,” he said awkwardly, “there’s no need for such language, eh? Miss Rose, perhaps you should head on home.”

The reverend was too far gone in his rage to listen .

“I knew you for what you were the minute I saw you,” he spat. “A witch who consorted with demons, and a whore who would spread her legs for any—”

Her hand rose up before she knew it, but he intercepted it in a bruising, punishing grip, making her wince in pain. The crowd was shifting uncomfortably now, and a couple of people moved forward as if to intercede. However they were beaten to it.

“Get your fucking hands off her,” came a furious growl.

Grim.

The reverend was so surprised at the voice that he dropped her hand immediately.

Serena looked over to see the crowd parting and Grim bearing down on them like an avenging angel, fury written all over his face.

Recognition crossed the reverend’s face, and he had barely made out a word before his face was struck by Grim’s fist, sending him spinning.

Grim turned to her, concern and rage warring over his features.

“Are you okay,” he said in a low, intense voice. “Did he hurt you?”

She shook her head, absently rubbing her aching wrist. His eyes fell to her abused appendage, and tightened. Before she could stop him, he swept over to where the reverend lay groaning and picked him up by the front of his robes.

“If you ever touch her again, if you ever so much as look at her, breathe in her direction or even think of her, I will hunt you down and eviscerate you from your head down to your toes, until you’re trying to stuff your organs back in with your bare hands.

And then, and only then, will I slit your throat. Do you understand?”

The man nodded his eyes wide in terror.

“Good,” Grim said pleasantly and dropped him back to the ground.

He took Serena’s hand and led her out of the muttering crowd.

No one stopped them; whether it was because they thought Reverend Erikkson deserved it or because they were terrified of Grim, she wasn’t sure.

She paid that no mind though, for she was trying so very hard to convince herself that the way Grim had come to her rescue was decidedly barbaric and not attractive.

She was failing miserably.

The walk to Primrose Cottage was silent for the most part, and once they reached home, Grim led her to the living room and sat her down.

“I’m all right!” she protested. “You needn’t treat me like an invalid.”

“Serena,” he replied gently, “you’re shivering.”

She was shaking, she realized. How odd that a loathsome wretch like the reverend would alarm her.

Her heart was beating like it was trying to burst out of her chest, and her legs felt like jelly.

She drew them up and encircled her knees with her arms. Grim rubbed soothing circles on her back, and she was grateful for his silence; she wasn’t sure if she was up to talking yet.

Finally, when she had calmed down enough, she spoke:

“He called my aunt names,” she whispered. “I couldn’t let him do that.”

“I know,” he said simply.

She looked up at him and asked the question that had been on her mind.

“How did you know I was in trouble?”

“I didn’t,” he said sheepishly. “A while after you left, I thought I would fetch my remaining belongings from the inn, considering that I was sleeping here.” He looked at her and frowned.

“I was planning on telling the innkeeper I was leaving town to avoid unpleasant talk, but I suppose that slimy bastard ruined that plan.”

“Yeah.” She sighed .

“Serena, listen. If this is going to cause problems for you… I can move back to the inn. I can just be here for the curse and go back to the inn to sleep—”

“No. The reverend thinks he did something with that proclamation, but the truth of it is, other than a few wagging tongues, there’s not a lot of stigma around men and women living under the same roof out of wedlock.

We’re not as conservative as city folk in that area.

Besides,” she said with a grin, “this is going to be tame considering that the last rumor about me was that I got this hair by having relations with the devil.”

Grim shook his head. “I can’t believe you dye it yourself,” he muttered.

After a slight pause, she spoke again:

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “For what you did back there. It’s not often someone comes to my rescue like that.”

He looked almost offended at that. “You don’t have to thank me. I would knock out any asshole who tried to hurt you without having to be asked.”

Stars, she loved how protective he was.

Wait a minute.

Loved?

She was in love with Grim?

Oh. Oh, no.

She had known there was something between them, and that it was more special than just being friends.

But she had not expected to fall so utterly and completely in love with him so fast. She looked at him then, taking in his dark eyes and messy hair that made her want to run her hands through it.

His lean frame and strong arms that had carried her when she needed it.

Her chest felt weirdly tight, as if she had forgotten to breathe, a warm feeling spreading through her, making her cheeks feel oddly hot .

“Are you okay?” he asked with a frown. “You don’t look so good.”

He placed a cool hand on her forehead to check for a fever, and the contact made her wretched heart go into overdrive.

“No,” she squeaked, scrambling away.

He looked like he would ask her more about it, when she heard a loud noise from behind them. They whirled around in unison, and there stood Serena’s nemesis, looking at them innocently with a belt buckle in his hand. A belt buckle that looked like it had been freshly chewed off the strap.

“Nuts!” yelled Serena, diving forward. “Not this time, you rascal!”

Nuts let out a chattering sound, taunting her, and rushed to the door. She set off in pursuit and then looked back to motion Grim along.

“I am not chasing a squirrel,” he said firmly. “I don’t think whatever he has is worth it.”

“Fine,” she called out, as she raced after the pesky rodent. “But it was your belt buckle.”

“ What ?“ she heard him yell, followed by heavy footsteps.

She giggled, keeping her eyes on the bushy orange tale that was almost to its tree.

“Nuts! Come on, I let you keep the ribbons, this isn’t fair.”

It was no use, Nuts climbed the tree and disappeared. Stomping her feet, she turned to see Grim standing there mournfully holding his massacred belt. She placed a consoling hand on his shoulder.

“Never let sleeping squirrels lie,” she said sagely.

“That makes no sense, Serena.”

“It sounded funnier in my head.”

“Your head terrifies me in a multitude of ways, and this one just joined the list. ”

“Do you think he just stashed it in the usual place?” she said, ignoring his jibe.

They made their way to the hole they had made in the bark before and found it empty. He clearly had not appreciated them ransacking his loot last time.

“You know,” said Grim thoughtfully, looking at the empty space, “Nuts the squirrel might be smarter than most immortals I’ve met.”

Serena looked at him curiously, but he refused to elaborate.

They made their way back indoors, conceding defeat to the light-fingered animal, and Serena proposed a cup of tea to cheer them up (“You mean to cheer you up,” Grim had grumbled.) She carried in the delicious-smelling brew and sat on the floor in front of the fire, Grim joining her.

Her body instinctively reacted to his presence, relaxing, as she scooted closer.

It crossed her mind that she didn’t just feel safe with him because he was strong, but also because he was kind, and funny, and she loved the way he went along with her antics, occasionally getting swept up in them too.

They sipped the tea while they talked—well she chattered, and he listened with an amused remark here and there.

Placing aside her empty cup, she stared into the roaring flames and dared to slightly lean on his broad shoulder.

The fire burned merrily, the flames licking the logs, and she wondered if she would see the fire spirits again.

Right as she had thought that, she saw a tiny flaming figure twirl in the fire and then wink at her. A moment later, it disappeared.

“Oh!” she cried, leaning forward, tugging Grim’s sleeve. “Grim! Did you see that?”

She looked at him, her eyes shining, and was about to exclaim about the fire spirit, but the look in his eyes made her words dry up in her throat .

Grim was looking at her with something akin to wonder and a gentleness that made her breath hitch.

He hesitantly touched a finger to her cheek, and she felt a shiver go through her in response.

Leaning forward into his touch, she put her hand on his, her chest going up and down in rapid succession.

His face was closer now, so close that she could feel his breath mingle with hers, and she let out a small gasp at how her body warmed in response, like molten heat had shot through her veins.

Her eyes shuttered a little, aching for him to come closer, to close the gap between their lips.

And then he did.

His lips were soft and warm and firm. They moved with hers in unison, and she slipped her hands into his hair, while his hands found her waist, pulling her closer until they were flush against each other, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

And then Grim tore himself away with a gasp. She looked at him confused, her own chest heaving with emotion.

“I can’t do this,” he said with a tortured look in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Her heart shattered. She had not known six little words could break someone’s heart like this.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No!” he said vehemently, making her jump. “It’s nothing like that, it’s me.”

He got up to pace around the room, and all emotion from the kiss drained out. She watched him run his fingers agitatedly through his hair, the color bleached from his skin.

“At least choose a better excuse,” she said through unmoving lips.

He flinched, and finally stopped his striding.

“It’s not what you think, Serena. It’s not that I don’t want to,” he said. “I cannot . This…us…it cannot become anything; you must understand. ”

“If you want me to understand, tell me why ,” she cried. “If there’s a reason then tell me, we can work it out together!”

She hated that she sounded so desperate and hated it even more when his face shuttered, and he shook his head, turning away.

“There’s nothing you can do; please…just let it be.”

She let out a choked laugh. The world seemed to be closing in on her, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

She was truly an idiot. Of course he did not want to be tied down with promises to her.

He was stuck here because of the horrible curse, a curse she had triggered.

Sure, he was making the best of his time here, but that didn’t mean he wanted to commit to the strange girl who lived alone in a cottage on the outskirts of her village.

And why should he? There was nothing for him here.

“Fine,” she said quietly, trying to hold on to some of her dignity. “If that’s what you want.”

He winced at the coolness in her tone. “Serena—”

“You can either explain yourself, Grim, or drop it.”

A part of her hoped he would elaborate, but when he stayed silent, her chest cracked.

“I see,” she whispered. “Then there’s nothing more to say.”

It was almost nightfall now; the sun had completely disappeared. The stars shone brightly outside, and Serena hated them at that moment. She had wished for someone to end her loneliness, and instead they had sent her the man who would break her heart.

The telltale sign of green smoke appeared then, and for the first time since this mess started, Serena was glad of the curse that would whisk her away to some place that would distract her from her aching heart.