Page 89 of Of Curses and Courtship

“Courageous.” She chuckles. “That is whatyoumust be. It is why you fit together like halves of a whole. You must carry the courage for both of you.”

“But I’m not courageous. I’m a coward. I always have been.”

“When you lost your home, you ran to a new place that would surely wish to see you dead. You befriended the prince and even allowed him to know your secret. Above all…” Her voice drops to a whisper. “You allowed yourself to love without knowing if that love could be returned. That takes great courage.”

I’ve always believed the psychic abilities of the Moon Fae to be understated, having not seen hints of them in myself, aside from my empathy. Now, with a fae I hardly know looking through me as though I’m transparent, I see just how psychic the Moon Fae are.

She’s right—I must be courageous. And I will be.

“He’s back!”Helena squeals. “Emyr. Sonny spotted him slipping into his bedchamber.”

Foolish man.

The prince returns on the fifth day, just two days after Isa gifts me with courage. Perhaps it’s not one of her gifts or a wish, but it feels like it is. She revealed something that may have been within me all along, but now it’s blossoming. My courage is a mint plant, growing large enough to take over the garden.

If the prince has returned, even if he is hiding in his bedchamber, that is where I’ll be.

Without saying a word to Helena, I rush from the room. I don’t care about the state I am in—in a white nightdress, with my hair flowing over my shoulders.

Emyr is back and has yet to greet me. It feels like a great insult, after all we’ve been through.

I bang a fist against the wooden door, ensuring he can hear. “Emyr. It’s me.”

He should know who that is. We nearly died together, and then he disappeared for five days. Five days without knowing if he is alive, without knowing if he is cursed. Perhaps he is—and gods, he would deserve it, but?—

He opens the door, and my fury slips away. Emyr peers at me with sunken eyes—lifeless. His wings wrap around his shoulders like a blanket or cape, something to keep him warm and protected.

“Ophelia.” His eyes only come to life when he smiles at me and steps aside. “Come in.”

“I will, thank you.” I push past him.

He closes the door behind us and lingers there, with his fingers on the metal doorknob. “What brings you here at this hour?”

I take two steps into the room, my feet pressing into theplush, red rug. “Well, you didn’t come to see me, so I thought I would do the job myself.”

“I’ve only been home a few hours.”

“That was ample time to send word of your return.” I sniff. “I’m sure you told the others…”

I’ve no right to be jealous of Princess Minetta, but despite how positively evil it makes me, I am. She is his companion, the one he will marry despite his heart’s wishes, and I will only ever be the one he kisses and runs from.

“Only my parents know about my return,” he says.

Not quite. Word always spreads quickly among the maids, so it’s no surprise that Helena has such secrets.

“That is… fine.” I deflate, my shoulders falling. “I was worried about you. I waited for a letter, a message, or… or anything.”

“Why would you worry about me?” He shakes his head. “You almost died, and it was my fault. Everything is my fault. You were likely safer when I was away.”

This is precisely what Isa meant. I don’t believe Emyr is a coward in the deepest parts of his heart, but heavens above, he behaves like one.

“Oh, that’s enough.” I laugh bitterly. “What does wallowing and blaming yourself do to keep me safe? What does it do to break this curse? It doesnothing.”

His eyes widen. “Miss Ophelia!”

“No! You can’t kiss me and run. You ought never to have kissed me at all.”

“I know, but…” He frowns. “I thought you wanted to?—”