Page 141 of Of Curses and Courtship

Lady Ashbridge clicks her tongue and turns her attention to me. “Lies. He is selfish.” She presses the knife harder against my neck. “He does not wish to watch you die.”

“I find it sweet,” I mutter, my pulse rushing in my ears. “If you two had not already bonded, I would ask you to kill me first, but alas.”

She takes a step away. “How right you are. I must start with him—but do not get too comfortable.”

I rub my hand over the base of my neck. My eyes lock with Emyr’s.

“Kill me,” Emyr says. “Damn my palace. Curse my land, my people, and my friends, but let her live. She’ll be harmless once I’m gone.”

“Emyr!” I gasp. “Don’t say that.”

I’ve never been dramatic enough to tie my life to someone else’s, having already lived through such a significant loss. But a life without Emyr? That’s something I cannot fathom.

“Don’t listen to her,” Emyr says. “I made my choice.”

“You will not tell me what to do.” Lady Ashbridge lunges at him. “You are a foolish, naive man, despite your hundred years. It is best that you never become king.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Emyr says evenly, without moving his eyes from mine. “I love you.”

“That is quite enough.” Without any hesitation, Lady Ashbridge turns and shoves the dagger into the chest of Emyr’s double. “I am tired of you trying to trick me. I cannot be tricked in my own home.”

It wasn’t the double she stabbed, not at all. The Emyr by my side flickers and dissolves; the fake Emyr, after all.

My heart drops to the ground when the real Emyr does. Blood soaks his torso, and the life drains from his eyes.

Lady Ashbridge addresses her quivering daughters. “What did we learn, girls?”

They sob wordlessly, and the lady of the house continues.

“True love conquers nothing.” Lady Ashbridge turns to me, her smile glinting as bright as her dagger. “And never take someone at their word without a contract.”

I don’t wish to live without Emyr. I spent years in a dull, lifeless existence before I met him. In a single step, I pushcloser to Lady Ashbridge, lifting my neck in defiance. If I am to die, it will be on my terms. I will take the death with pride.

Emyr lets out a series of gargling, gasping sounds. His energy floats above him, and I’ll join him soon. We’ll float together, happily.

Lady Ashbridge’s energy has always been a strong thing. It was suffocating when I could not use my powers. I could barely be in the same room as her. Now, I feel it for what it is—chaos.

Pure chaos.

It’s easy to push my magic in her direction, wrapping the moon magic around her sorcery. It soothes my energy.

One last good deed.

“You may kill me now,” I murmur. “It would be a kindness, but…” I close my fist and yank her energy. It’s as if someone else is working through me, the fae in me that has remained asleep for so long. Silver energy radiates from my chest and fist. “When I die, I’ll take your power with me. You took my true love, and I’m now chained to you instead. You will die, too. Left with nothing.”

Minetta speaks. Something has freed her.Did I free her?

“Ophelia—you have the gift of the moon goddess.” Minetta gasps. “We haven’t seen this in—in ages!”

Her eyes widen. Lady Ashbridge appears centuries older. The life drains from her face. “Child,” she croaks. “Please. Do not.”

I hold her magic tighter, choking it—choking her, without so much as touching her.

“Ophelia?” Elisa sobs. “What are you?—”

I pull the evil magic closer. “I’m doing what I must.”

Lady Ashbridge lunges, but she’s clumsy, as if her bones are old and frail. The dagger drops from her hands.