I nodded, understanding. If they weren’t on guard, even their power might not be enough.
“I understand.” I held out my hand, gesturing to the bag slung over his shoulder. “If you give me the note and all the items you brought from Ethereum, I’ll journey alone and destroy the curse while you go after your brothers.”
My mother’s mouth opened in protest, but I shut her down with a sharp glare. This was my life, my purpose. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to Zane’s brothers—my fellow princesses’ husbands—because we hadn’t acted when we could have.
Instead of handing me the bag, Zane placed his hand in my outstretched one and squeezed gently. A wave of heat swept through me at the contact, and my breath hitched.
“A valiant offer,” he said softly, his eyes fixed on mine. “One I will not forget. But leaving you to face this mission on your own is not something I am capable of.”
My legs felt weak, and I inwardly swooned at his words. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught my mother grinning.
Zane squeezed my hand once more before letting it go, but even after, I could still feel the imprint of his palm against mine.
“You are right,” he continued, a look of determination sliding over his features. “My brothers are ten times more powerful than Queen Liliana. They can take care of themselves. The best way to help them is to stop this curse once and for all.”
“Wonderful,” my mother said, approval clear in her tone. That alone was impressive—she didn’t give her approval lightly. Protective of my sisters and me, she rarely deemed anyone goodenough. Yet somehow, Zane had managed to earn her respect, and that meant something to me.
“I will prepare my troops,” she added. “We’ll join you on your quest in the morning.”
Zane and I both nodded. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small rolled note attached to a glowing blue vial and handed it to me.
“I have some other items we might need to end this curse,” he said, tapping the bag. “But this note—I’ve been waiting to give it to you, and you alone.”
I glanced down at the tiny scroll. My name was written on the side:Lorelei Maebry, Princess of Spring.
“May I have some time to read it alone?” I asked, sensing that this was something I needed to experience privately.
Both Zane and my mother nodded, leaving the tent.
Stepping closer to the lantern, I peeled the tiny wax seal from the scroll and unrolled the letter. My gaze swept over the note as I began to read.
Princess Lorelei Maebry,
The curse that has plagued your land for thousands of years ends with you. To destroy it, you must journey alone with your mate, Zane Warrick, to the Tree of Transformation—the place where the curse began, and the only place where it can end.
I stopped. My throat tightened as I processed the words:Journey alone with your mate, Zane Warrick.
Seeing it written on the scroll in front of me made it real. Zanewas my mate. I took a whole couple of breaths before I carried on reading.
When you arrive, place the pieces of the Shadow Heart within the tree and drink the contents of the vial. Then, place your hand upon the trunk and surrender yourself to the curse. Only through this act can it be healed forever.
Before you begin this task, there are two vital truths you must understand:
First, the curse will not relinquish its hold without a fight. As you undertake your journey with the intent of ending it, the curse will rise against you with all its might, seeking to hinder your progress at every turn. Come for the curse and the curse will come for you.
Second, when you drink the contents of the vial, your life force will be the price paid to end the curse. This is the ultimate sacrifice.
We honor your courage and selflessness, sweet princess of Spring.
With deepest respect,
The Wise Ones
But I didn’t have time to dwell on that—if I even truly knew how I felt about it—because the letter also said I’d have to give up my life to end the curse.
A single tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away.
End my life before it truly began? No marriage, no children, none of the dreams I’d always hoped for would come to pass. Not seeing my sisters grow or ever seeing Dawn, Aribella, and Isolde again or watching how their lives would flourish once the curse was over—I would miss all of that.
