“Never better,” he mutters, leaning on me.
His eyes are wide but dull, ringed with red, and his skin has turned sickly pale. He holds on to me to keep his balance, but stares at the floor, a look of hopeless despair on his face.
Are my problems really that important, compared to him dying? If I can cure him… I have to. No matter what happens to me afterward, I can’t just let him die if I can possibly prevent it.
“Shane,” I say softly.
His eyes twitch in my direction, but his head doesn’t move.
“Come here,” I whisper, reaching out to touch his chin. He turns towards me, and all I can see in his eyes is pain and confusion.
It worked last time—it should work now. Besides, I should test this—what if my kiss isn’t what brought him back last time? It might have been an extremely well-timed coincidence.
I turn Shane’s face towards mine and press my body against his. He tries to pull back a little, then relaxes against me again. He looks like he wants to say something, but I just shake my head and press my lips against his.
Pleasure surges through me, warm waves that tingle through my body, making my nipples hard as a throbbing ache grows between my legs. I wrap my arms around Shane’s waist, pushing him back against the wall as I deepen the kiss, flicking my tongue into his mouth as I press my body against his.
Shane holds me loosely around the waist, accepting the kiss and not escalating the situation. I begin to lose myself in the moment, even forgetting where we are, when he reaches up to touch my shoulders, pulling me back just a little.
“Hyacinth,” he says. “It’s okay. It worked.”
“It worked?”
“The kiss. I feel much better.”
I look up into his eyes, and they’re dancing again, layers upon layers of bright blue, drifting back and forth like never-ending waves of infinity.
“Really?” I ask, not quite believing it.
“Really. I don’t think we can deny it anymore—you’re the right person, Hyacinth. You can break the curse. We just have to figure out how.”
“I think you’re right,” I reply, taking his hand as we walk out of the library. I don’t elaborate because I’m thinking the exact same thing.
But if I speak those words out loud, then I’ve accepted this. I’ll be bound to Shane forever, and I still don’t know if that’s what I really want.
Chapter 21 - Shane
Hyacinth holds my hand most of the way home, resting her fingers on my arm when I have to use two hands to drive. She seems scared of what might happen if she lets go of me. To tell the truth, I am as well.
My relief at finding something that makes me feel better is completely eclipsed by the realization that I need her to be well. I’m helpless. Literally at her mercy.
Resentment rises in me at the idea that the fate of my entire world rests outside my hands. When I feel Hyacinth’s soft touch on my arm, I look over at her. She smiles, the warmth of her expression melting away my doubts.
Hopefully, we can talk now. Properly talk.
When we get home, Hyacinth keeps holding my hand, and her violet eyes are full of concern for me. She insists I wait on the couch while she goes to make some tea and bring back a plate of cookies.
“I appreciate this, but I don’t need—”
“Everyone needs cookies and tea,” she says, cutting me off. “This is my special brew with honey and lemon, and these cookies are loaded with superfoods. They could cure Superman from kryptonite poisoning.”
“Okay, if you insist,” I answer, taking a sip of tea. “But don’t deflect me, please. We really need to talk now.”
“Yes,” she says as she sits down next to me. “I agree. Obviously, us being together had an effect on the curse, and it might mean I’m the right one.”
She looks so lost, I reach out to her, not knowing if she’ll accept my comfort or not. To my relief, Hyacinth opens her arms and slithers across the couch, snuggling up under my arm.
“I like your heartbeat,” she whispers.
