I interrupted the discussion between the warlocks. "I'll be right back." I grabbed Marquis' hand and rushed him outside, leaving the chaos of the dining room behind us. The cool breeze on my face was a welcome distraction from the heaviness of what I was about to reveal.
"Deva, what's going on?" Marquis' concern was evident in his voice, and worry was etched on his face.
But for a second, I couldn’t speak. I just stared. Marquis was a tall, dark, and handsome man. Unlike my ex, who was drinking buddies with every man in town, Marquis preferred a night with a book over a rowdy night with the guys. From the moment I met him, I wanted to avoid him, because he felt like everything I’d ever wanted and more. But I’d been done. Done with men. Done with dating. Done with being hurt ever again.
Time passed. He was patient. He never pushed. Never made me feel afraid. The quiet town doctor had wormed his way into my heart, and now, for the first time, I was scared. Scared of him. Scared that once he learned the truth about this mess I’d lose him, and he’d hurt me.
My head spun, and it was hard to catch my breath. This might be pretty close to my worst nightmare, but Marquis was a good man. He deserved the truth, even if the truth led to him walking away from me.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling the weight of my words before I spoke them. "Marquis, there's something you need to know."
"Is everything okay?" he asked, his green eyes searching mine for answers. His tone was measured and calm the way it always was.
"Remember when I told you about the fire being magical in nature?" I began, my voice shaky. "Well, it turns out there’s a curse. Someone cursed me, and people close to me could be in danger."
Marquis looked stunned, and fear flickered across his face. But instead of pulling away, he stepped closer, reaching out to touch my arm gently. "Are you okay?"
I stared, my heartbeat growing steadier. He was checking on me. Not running away. Not yet.
"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know who did this or why, but I can't shake the feeling that things are only going to get worse."
"I’ll help you," Marquis said without hesitation, his eyes filled with determination. "I'll cancel my appointments for the day and stay with you. We'll figure this out together."
Together.Except for my friends, I never did anything together with anyone. I had a group, but never a partner. When dinner had to be made, I alone did it. When the house needed to be cleaned, I alone did it. When my mom passed away and I needed support, I grieved… alone. But that was with Harry. Not Marquis. Maybe with Marquis there was someone I could do things together with.
"You don't have to do that," I protested half-heartedly, secretly relieved by his offer. By the thought of having a partner to help me through something for the first time ever.
His eyes held mine, filled with earnestness. "I care about you. I want to be there for you, especially now when things seem so uncertain." His words were a warm embrace, and I smiled through my tears.
"Thank you," I whispered, the first tendrils of hope taking root in my heart.
"Of course," Marquis replied softly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Do you want to just talk about it, or do you want me to start working on something?" Marquis asked gently, his eyes searching mine for any signs of resistance. He stood close enough for me to notice the faint smell of sandalwood that clung to his collared shirt, his glasses perched neatly atop his slightly crooked nose.
I hesitated, feeling an unfamiliar vulnerability gnawing at the edges of my composure. But there was something about the genuine warmth in his gaze, the way he seemed to truly care,that chipped away at the walls I'd so carefully built around myself.
I breathed out, taking a shaky step towards him. "But don't say I didn't warn you—it's quite the story."
Marquis smiled softly, taking my hand and leading me to a quiet corner of the dining room where we could sit down. As my fingers curled around his, peace washed over me, steadying my racing thoughts. And so, with a deep breath, I let it all out in a rush—my suspicions about the curse, the list of possible suspects, the disastrous run-in with Harry that had left me feeling raw and exposed.
As I spoke, Marquis listened intently, his eyes never leaving my face. He didn't interrupt or try to offer solutions; he simply took in every word, absorbing my pain and frustration as if they were his own. It felt freeing, like unburdening myself of a heavy weight I hadn't even realized I'd been carrying.
The moment the words left my lips, Marquis enveloped me in a hug that seemed to defy the laws of physics. It was as if his arms were made of pure warmth and safety, holding me together when I felt like I was falling apart.
"Deva," he whispered into my hair, "do you need me to help fix this, or do you just need me here with you?"
I hesitated for a second, considering the question. The idea of having someone else at my side who could help me solve the mystery of the curse was tempting. But what I truly craved, what I hadn't even realized I needed until now, was just the comforting presence of another person who genuinely cared about me.
"Just be here. That's all I need right now."
He tightened his embrace for a moment before releasing me slightly, his eyes searching mine for any hint of doubt or hesitation. Finding none, he smiled gently and pulled me back into the circle of his arms, letting me rest my head against his chest.
As I sat there, wrapped in the warm cocoon of Marquis' embrace, I couldn't help but compare him to Harry, my ex-husband. The differences between them were stark and undeniable. Whereas Harry had always been cold and distant, keeping me at arm's length even in our most intimate moments, Marquis was open and vulnerable, offering me his heart without reservation. It was like night and day, and the contrast filled me with relief and hope that I hadn't felt in years.
In the quiet safety of his arms, my thoughts began to drift, and I found myself wondering what it would be like to let myself love again. The very idea terrified me—after all, I'd been burned before, and the last thing I wanted was to put Marquis in danger because of some stupid curse. But as I listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a small voice inside me whispered that maybe, just maybe, it was worth the risk.
6
EMMA
