Edyth’s face puckered into a worried frown. “Will you be all right, milady?”
“Aye. It’s not serious.”
“Come on, Edyth!” a small boy cried. “We’ve got Creswyn pinned down.”
Ariel stifled her laugh as Edyth eagerly ran to join the other children.
Valteri dismounted, then helped her down, his arms a perfect cradle for her body.
Ariel wrapped her arms around him, noting the darkening of his eyes as he stared at her lips.
Smiling, she wished they were alone so that she could yield to the part of her that longed for his kiss.
His grip tightening, he carried her through the hall to their chambers and placed her on her bed. He pulled her cloak from her shoulders and folded it.
A strange look crossed his face as he watched her. “At least I have no worries about you running away. Not until your leg heals.”
Ariel swallowed at his tone. “Aye, but I would give everything I have, ifyouwould.”
He placed her cloak back in the small chest then turned toward her. “I refuse to run. You know that.”
“You’re a fool.”
“Only for you.”
And with that, he left the room.
Ariel wanted to strangle her stubborn husband. How in the name of anything could she save a man who didn’t want to be saved?
“I will find a way.”
But as the crone came in with a snide, knowing smile, she knew that her time was coming due. And that any moment was about to be Valteri’s last.
Mildred would see to it.
And if she didn’t, Belial would.
CHAPTER20
Ariel greeted every dawn with fear and anxiety. Would this be the day they killed Valteri to punish her?
Would she have to hold him and watch him die?
Because she dared to love him?
It was as if Belial and Mildred intentionally dragged the days out, to make sure they maximized her torture.
And each day, she tried a new way to break the curse. With Shadow’s help, she researched everything she could, but there were no answers.
Not even their shadows had a clue how to undo it without the crone’s help or intervention.
“Only the crone can rescind her curse. I’m sorry.” Shadow at least was sympathetic. “If you want, I could kill her for you. That might help.”
His solution was becoming much more appealing as the days went by.
More snow had fallen the night before, blanketing the land in a pure white cover that made her wonder how evil could rest so comfortably around them and not at least be touched by the innocent beauty of this world.
Then again, evil had always been without conscience. Never caring how much harm it did to those around it.
