Page 29 of Healing Elixirs & Wicked Crows

One final heartbreak.One final pain.Then I would walk away and let her find that promising future without me.

I took her hand in mine, giving it what I hoped felt like a reassuring squeeze, even as my heart stuttered within my chest.We had been so close to a different future once, long ago, but fate had different paths for us.Still, we both had parts to play in this.She might not have known her part, but I knew mine.

"Well then," I said, giving her my most charming smile as I held her palm.I lifted my other hand to cup her cheek, guiding her attention to my face as I released a soft sigh."It seems we both have dark shadows in our past and hearts that need to heal.I hope you find your happy ending.If, by chance, you find that you want to give the woefully handsome specimen of a male in front of you a chance, I promise you’ll find yourself more than lucky."

She rolled her eyes at my antics, but as she pulled her hand from mine and stepped out of my grasp, I saw the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Is that so?"Rosemary challenged, her delicate brow arching.She continued walking, and I hurried to follow next to her, holding the thick brush from our way as we chose an easy pace."Tell me then: what makes you qualified to be my partner?Aside from your apparent talent for shameless self-flattery, of course."

"Are you asking for the specifics of my...talents?Why, I thought you were a fair maiden.Very well then.I am a male of many talents.I can please whatever delicious, naughty thoughts you may have running through your mind.Rest assured, I will be far dirtier and wickedly pleasurable than you could ever imagine.In fact, I have this little trick that I do, where I twi?—"

"—All right!"she interrupted, stopping so suddenly that a branch she'd been holding snapped back directly into my face."I think I’ve heard quite enough.Besides, you speak nothing but lies.Everyone knows how hard unseelie males are to impress, and how unimpressive they are in return."

"Believe what you will, princess."I shrugged, trying not to let her words get to me.Moving past her, speaking over my shoulder."But there is no denying the effect my dazzling smile and devilish good looks have on you.You are far from the first to fall victim to my charms.I've left a trail of swooning maidens and lovelorn lads from here to the unseelie court and back again."

"Is that meant to be a recommendation?"she asked dryly as she caught up to me once more."Because, from where I'm standing, it sounds more like a warning for me to stay far, far away from you lest I become another notch in your bedpost."

I clasped my palm against my heart, gasping."Princess, you wound me!Had I known you were out there somewhere…” I winked and she looked away.“...I would have remained chaste until the day I found you."

I maintained a playful demeanor with her while revealing the truth.Years of mourning her loss had turned me into the worst version of myself, uncaring and infamous.But whispers of her survival had shattered my darkness and fueled my search.Every clue that drew us nearer sparked a blaze of hope within me.My love had survived, though I might not deserve hers anymore.

And she didn't even remember me.

She didn't respond to my chiding, and as we continued through the woods, a comfortable silence stretched between us.The only sound our steady steps, leaves and twigs crunching beneath our boots, and the wildlife that stayed far enough from us, but still seemed abundant around us.Having her march alongside me brought me a level of comfort I hadn't felt in a long time.Her presence next to me and the scent of her sweet aroma in the air around me melted the tension from my muscles.

As the day waned, shadows stretched, casting a fleeting golden glow over the forest as we pressed onward.Tonight marked our third night since leaving Rosemary's cottage, and time was slipping away like sand through my fingers.The full moon was only days away now.I needed to find a secure shelter, but more than that, I needed her love, and I needed it soon.

The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers, and the ground gradually hardened beneath us.Uncertain of how much longer the light would last, I hoped it would be enough for me to lead us to a safe haven for her to rest.

Rosemary moved gracefully beside me, shoulders high and hips swaying.Her movement was captivating.I resisted the urge to brush bits of leaves from her hair, which had mostly fallen from her loose braid.Her limp was barely noticeable, thanks to her seelie blood's rapid healing.Yet, despite the long days of hiking through the woods taking a toll, her determination to complete this quest was clear in the fire behind her eyes.

"So, tell me," I said, breaking the silence as the shadows of the forest deepened until most of the dappled light couldn't reach us."What drives you to break this curse upon your sister?What type of curse is it?"

Her lips pursed, and her gaze avoided mine as if she were afraid I could read her intentions with just a glance."It's complicated.You wouldn't understand."She ducked beneath a low-hanging branch, grunting as she straightened."I just have to save her."

"Ahh.The bonds of sisterly devotion."I nodded sagely, a glimmer of mischief in my eyes."A noble cause, to be sure.But tell me, princess, have you ever considered that perhaps your sister's fate is not your burden to bear?That maybe, just maybe, you deserve a chance at happiness too?"

She stopped abruptly, and for a moment, I thought she was going to chastise my use of princess.Instead, she whipped around to face me so fast that her hair braids nearly slapped me as she turned toward me.An anger burned behind her gaze as her brow furrowed, causing a cute, fierce wrinkle to form between them."How could you say that?Briar is my responsibility, my family.I would do anything, give anything, to see her free again.That is my happiness."

I held my palms up in a placating gesture, my heart twisting in pain at the obvious agony held within her tone as she berated me."My apologies, Rosemary.I meant no offense.I only meant that I hate to see you shouldering this burden alone.It seems to me that you’ve already sacrificed so much.I hope you’ll allow me to help with the weight now, if only for the short while that we’ll be journeying together."

She breathed deeply then stubbornly shook her head, her jaw set."I can't.I won't.Not until Briar is safe and our kingd…” she trailed off, shaking her head before simply saying, “not until she is free."

She turned from me, and worry oozed from her very pores.She didn't know who I was or what I knew, and I got the feeling she feared she had just revealed too much about herself.

My hand rose before I realized what I was doing, until my fingertips brushed lightly against the skin of her chin.With the lightest pressure, I pulled her chin toward me until we stared into each other's eyes, unable to look away.Her skin so smooth beneath my touch.Even in the deepening shadows wrapping around us, her face was perfection.

"Run away with me, Rosemary," I murmured, my voice a husky rasp.I watched her reaction carefully, noting the way her breath caught, how her pulse fluttered at her throat.The way I affected her was intoxicating."Forget all of this and live.What we’re doing isn’t without risk.The days that follow this one will be dangerous to us both.I want you to choose life.Do not risk yourself like this."

I inhaled her essence like a drug I couldn't quit.My warm breath brushed her neck as we stood close.The scents of vanilla and sunshine almost broke me, reviving memories from before we felt my mother's capricious cruelty.My words walked a fine line.Part of me meant them and always would, but another part knew that future was gone.Yet, she needed to believe me.Fate had been harsh, and though I longed for us to escape and forget kingdoms, destinies, and prophecies, I knew it was impossible.

All I could do was ensure her future would shine, even if the only way to save us both was to become everything she would despise.

She didn't move from my grasp.Her long lashes brushed the tops of her rosy cheeks as she blinked up at me."What about you?Your brother?Did you say what you said about him only as a means to get me alone in these woods so that you could seduce me?"

I dropped my hand but remained within a breath of her, our chests so close to touching as we breathed each other in."I wouldn’t need to drag you into these dangerous woods, chancing injury or death, simply to seduce you.”

The word hung between us, heavy with implication.I watched heat bloom in her cheeks, saw the way her breathing quickened.I couldn't tell if it was embarrassment, anger, or something else entirely, but the hope that she might be thinking about me that way, about my hands on her skin, my mouth on hers, made my blood sing.