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“Can we just cuddle?” she asked, at the foot of the bed.
“Of course,” I said quickly, hoping she didn’t change her mind.
She took off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed. I followed her lead, laying on the pillows, waiting to see what she wanted. She laid her head on my chest, hooking a leg over my own as every inch of her body was flush against my side.
I thought I knew what being content meant, but nothing could compare to this moment.
“I wouldn’t have waited to tell you I loved you. If I die, I want to tell you one more time so that you know I loved you until my last breath.” Katarina sniffled, as I felt a tear on my chest.
I held her tighter against me, vowing to myself and the goddess that her last breath wouldn’t be until we were old and gray, having lived a full and happy life.
3
KATARINA
The sound of thunder woke me up quickly. For a moment I didn’t remember where the hell I was, until I realized I was in my bed. I stretched, feeling rested for once and I didn’t have the groggy “mad at the world” feeling I had been having for the past week.
I looked over at the spot where I fell asleep on Lucien, remembering his soft kiss on my cheek, as he left my bed way too early. What I wouldn’t give to have him sleep in it all night because that sleep was the best I’ve had in a while.
A flashing of lightning brightened the room, while a loud boom followed. I sat up leaning over to the night stand to look at the time. It was eight in the evening, meaning I had slept for almost sixteen hours.
Damn that man was like a valium.
I couldn’t stop the smile that bloomed on my face. The bond in my chest was content, making me feel at ease. We desperately needed to talk and cuddle. His confession of love sent butterflies through my chest, making me feel stupidly happy. As much as I wanted to ride his face till I saw heaven, I knew that was not what we needed.
How long had I longed to be loved without strings attached? To be loved for who I was and not for what I could give. Lucien accepted me just the way I was, and that thought alone made me want to cry. As much as I wanted to say I loved him, the fear of losing us because I couldn’t figure out this damn spell, terrified me.
I might die, right as my happily ever after was within reach.
That thought made me lay down again wanting to sleep to stop my thoughts from spiraling out of control. A soft knock had me sitting up quickly wondering if it was Lucien but realizing it was way too early for him to shift.
“May I come in?” Mr. Potter asked.
As much as I wanted to be mad at him, I had missed him.
“Come in,” I said, a little nervously.
He glided through the wall looking a little nervous.
“I brought you some tea, and I made croissants,” he said, setting the tray down on the bed close to me.
“Thank you Mr. Potter,” I said, picking up the tea that smelled like earl gray.
“Katarina, I just want to apologize…”
I held up my hand stopping his apology.
“There is no need, even though I do wish you had told me, I don’t think it would have made a difference anyway,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.
“I never know how a Belladonna is going to act with us, and given the fact you are the only one who has tried to break this curse, I should have told you.” He gave me a sad smile. “You deserved the truth.”
“Thank you,” I said, as I grew nervous again.
“I think we needed to wait for the right person to break the curse. There was so much hate in the beginning.” He sat down at the foot of my bed while I sipped on my tea. “I was guilty of that in the beginning. They betrayed us, and took our future away.”
“I still don’t understand how you got stuck with them.”
“Zev’s mothers had grown worried when the curse kept them young while the rest of us aged. They asked me to take care of them after we had searched for years to break the curse. Our pack was dying and they didn’t know what was to become of them. So we found a witch who could tie me to the curse. When they became free, so would I.” He looked worried. “But as the years went by I think we all lost hope and were consumed by our anger.”
