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Her body had felt so small in my arms. Her sleeping face, peaceful though streaked with tears, plagued my mind as I lumbered on all fours in the thick woods along the edge of my estate. Here the sunlight was less blinding, the heat less oppressive.
Outside the cave beneath Starfell, I sat on the shade-cooled earth and sniffed the air. No whiff of Hunters on the breeze today. Only the scent of my horses, so much stronger to my animal nose.
I thought of the stallion that had passed through my hands in Puerta de los Reyes. He was a creature with great potential, if only he’d learned to hear the magic that I could sing to him. But he was too old to learn such things, and thus of no use to me. He’d go on to win his new owner some fortune, certainly, but he would never match the horses from Starfell—my horses.
I always hated to part with any of my animals—especially to a mortal—which was why so few could afford them. Talia’s father, who now possessed a Starfell stallion, had indeed paid dearly, though even he did not know how dearly.
Talia had endured the crossing better than I could have ever hoped. Facing their worst nightmares shredded the sanity of countless humans who’d passed through the hanging gates. Though I’d known she would eventually die, if in fact she fell in love with me, Talia’s screams still echoed in my head, and I wanted to rip everything from the world that could cause her to ever make that sound again.
For the first time, the idea of my freedom now carried with it a sour taste.
Wandering back into the cool darkness of my cave, I tried to see my bride as nothing more than one of the mortals I’d come to hate, insignificant flecks of flesh tossed out by the First and Last as little mockeries of my existence. They bloomed and died as fast as flowers without being nearly as pretty or as sweet-smelling. They bled and stank and never, even on their worst days, had to wander on clawed paws and sleep in caves. And still they loved like no other creature I’d ever encountered.
The darkness of the cave had an immediate effect, lulling me to sleep. For a brief moment, I fought the natural instinct to sleep away the day, but soon my willpower gave out.
I awoke to the sound of my brother’s voice.
“You cannot keep hiding from her.”
Hector strolled in, hands behind his back, illuminated by the fading light behind him. “She rode to the border of the estate.”
I leaped to my feet.
“Calm down.” Hector chuckled softly. “She’s sitting by the lake. And before you ask, no one has tried to harm her. Yet.”
I huffed out a loud breath through my long nose and walked to the cave entrance, sniffing the air and glancing at the cloudy western sky.
“She likely won’t try to go any farther tonight. It’s nearly dark.”
My eyes narrowed, and Hector lifted his hands.
“Save your words. If it would make you feel better, I can go and collect her.”
A low growl rumbled in my throat. I ambled back into the cave toward the tunnel that led deep into the earth. Hector crossed his arms.
“I thought she might try to run.”
I turned to glare at my brother.
“But she didn’t. You’ve found an honest mortal. I salute you. You could cast off this form forever.”
His words taunted every fragment of my soul. I hated myself for wanting to run toward that hope, even though it would cost too dear a price; that was the price my twin had crafted when he’d set my curse.
To break the curse, he had said, you must marry a mortal and make her fall in love with you, and only then, when she loves you in earnest, will your curse pour into her flesh, destroying her body and leaving yours whole. But mortals are prideful and fickle and even more driven by looks than the fae. Who would fall in love with your hideous hide?
Turning away from my younger brother, the one who’d stood by my side after everything Fabian had done, I walked deeper into the tunnel. He followed dutifully, still stringing out his arguments.
“If this world doesn’t kill her, Fabian will. We both know word of her presence will reach him sooner rather than later. It doesn't leave you much time.”
My massive head drooped farther down with every word he uttered.
When we entered the broad cavern at the end of the tunnel, he leaned against the rock wall. “You destroyed her the moment you married her, whether she takes the curse or not. Might as well give it one last solid effort.”
His reasons were the same ones I’d repeated back to myself a hundred years ago when I last tried to win the heart of a mortal. I’d never thought I’d try again, but a century has a way of disintegrating anyone’s best intentions.
Cradling her in my arms had felt better than anything I’d done in my miserable existence.
As I paced, Hector exhaled slowly. “Think about it, Rafael. You have until the end of the month to fulfill the curse requirements, or you’re stuck like that forever. She’d barely suffer. And you’d live out your immortality in your rightful place, with your full magic.”
