“I don’t know what you’re getting at–”
“I’ve faced enemies who, once left at my mercy, crumbled in a sobbing mess, begging for their lives.While you,” she looked me directly in the eyes, “were clearly terrified on the surface yesterday but you didn’t break down when attacked by our deadly enemies.And when your life was in my hands earlier today, you spoke stab-worthy truths and stood resolute.”
“Is that why you spared me?”I asked what I’d wanted to knowever since she’d chosen to be my friend instead of fighting me.
An enigmatic smile broke over her face.“Perhaps.It also takes guts to offer friendship in the face of death.In short, you’re a tough little flower.Meaning you just might survive a moss interaction with Karim.”
I cleared my throat.“I appreciate the advice, Deidre, but I don’t believe I will be putting it into practice.Firstly, I like my toes where they are.Secondly, to Karim, I’m nothing but a disgusting human, and he would never–”
Her laughter interrupted me before I could say anything else.She was laughing so hard that she nearly tumbled off the bed.
When she could finally speak, Deidre said, “Firstly, your toes are safe with me.I’ve desired Karim since forever, but he has made it perfectly clear a million times that my dreams will remain just that–dreams.Since I want him to be happy, I’m willing to curb my stabby tendencies when a worthy female shows up.”
She pointed at me, grinning.“As that worthy female happens to be my friend, I’ll also help her get in his dress.”
I gaped.“Umm–But, Deidre–”
“Secondly, Karim doesn’t find you disgusting.You’re on his moss, ain’t you?”
I bit my lip.“Yes?”
“Then there’s the fact that he let you in his garden.That place in an elf’s home is off limits to all but relatives, close friends, and braid partners.Ah, and let’s not forget he wouldn’t let anyone else carry you yesterday.When males get territorial like that…” Deidre sighed dreamily.
“But he wantedyouto carry me around his home yesterday,” I reminded her.“And he could barely look at me when Tisvali left us on our own, and–”
She clapped her hands excitedly.“Exactly!Him being weird is yet another sign that he’s not disgusted by you: he’s afraid of you.”
“What?!”That was absurd.
“He’s afraid of falling victim to the curse of his father’s blood.The curse is said to make elves succumb to the unnatural attraction to a human.”Deidre grew serious as she continued.“No one knows who was the first cursed.But it is known that once in the bloodline, the curse may skip generations, but it never lifts.And temptations of the human kind are known to increase the chance of the curse in the blood activating.”
Whoa.So that was what thecurseI kept hearing of was about.Trust elves to historically label the attraction to what they considered a bad species a curse.
“But,” Deidre went on, “I believe that Karim is already into humans.I mean, all these years, and not a single elf has captured his attention?That’s suspicious right there, if you ask me.Also, I believe that if something makes you happy, you should go for it, public norms and curses-murses be damned.So,” she wiggled her blue eyebrows, “if you ramp up the temptation factor with some itsy-bitsy assistance from me, he’ll be making both of you happy in no time.What do you say?”
“I don’t know.”This sounded like a very bad idea.“I thought him being seen carrying me was enough to put his life in danger?If something were to truly happen between us–”
Deidre snorted.“You two would just be doing what everyone thinks you already are.Karim bringing you to his home sealed the deal, as I warned him it would.”
I gasped.“He’ll get executed?”
“No, no, he was right about that part.If the Queen wanted him eliminated over this, she would already have him in the dungeon.He’s safe.”
“Thank heavens.”
But even so, what good could possibly come out of trying to seduce Karim?A one-night stand?That was not me.A chance of winning his favor for the sake of humans’ rights in the Kingdom?I wasn’t capable of such manipulation.No, I should not be playingwith fire, no matter how much I was tempted.
Then again, wasn’t I already playing with fire?I’d been the one to suggest Deidre sit on Karim’s moss to get back at him.When she’d come up with the idea to eat all his apples in another violation of her kind’s hospitality rules, I had encouraged her to do so.
Playing by the rules might keep me alive, but what life would that be if I never saw Karim again?If I spent the rest of my days in the gardens, wondering what it could have been if I’d been bold for once?As the saying went, one who hasn’t dared to live fully hasn’t truly lived.
“Deidre, can you bring that stickysaccabathing you use for your legs?”
Her silvery lips stretched into a wicked grin.
– 16 –
Curses
