Cryptic.
“How do I know their task or when it’s complete?”
Her cold green eyes narrow. “You don’t. But when the time comes, you will know.” Inspecting her nails, she continues, “But to answer your question, yes, I’ve found much. The way to break Kaden’s curse is listed clearly.”
Unimaginable relief rocks through me. I feel faint and exuberant joy all at once.
“What do we do? How can I?—”
“Dark Queen,” she snaps. “It is not so simple.”
I could be tasked with ending the world, I would still do it.
We end in the middle of a small clearing. Lilies, as large as my fist, in a symphony of colors all sprout along the edges. This place is so serene compared to what is happening outside of here, how I feel on the inside.
“There are steps to saving Kaden.”
“I will complete them.”
She rolls her eyes, annoyed. “Yes, of course. First, you will need to collect items for a purification ritual,” she explains, twisting her skirtsand twigs snap under her delicate feet. “A horrible ordeal, I assure you. It is designed to strip everything away, leaving just your core bare to the world, and your eyes clear from all corruption. And if at your core, you truly do love Kaden, youmaysucceed.” She scoffs. “This is only the first step. And many others have tried to be where you are—to save a Dark Fae royal. But none have prevailed.”
It doesn’t occur to me that I won’t survive. That I’ll fail.
It’s taken me time and obstacles, but I know, deep within my soul, under the bond and my fear, that I love Kaden. Truly, fully, for who he is. If he stayed a beast forever, I would surely still love him. I just can’t leave him to be—stuck without answers, stuck as a ravenous creature. Stuck without control, forced to just exist.
I was like that, in the Blackwoods village. Stuck, trapped, hated. I won’t allow him to suffer the same.
“I accept. What do we need to do?”
She runs her tongue over her teeth. “You’ll need to gather the ingredients. They’re not easily accessible.” Pointing to the mountain further away, hidden under dense fog, she continues, “The black roses that line the mountain’s edge are a key ingredient. You will need to grab three—one for the petals, one for the pollen, and one left whole. Each serve a purpose.”
My mind is already thinking of what to do. Baris might be helpful in this since it steps from his homeland. He won’t be happy to learn I was right—that there is more to than my blood and love. “Such as?”
Aoife tries to pet the Hellhound and he blows a smoke ring at her fingers, singing her flesh. She doesn’t react to the burns.
“Once you get the roses, you’ll need to eat the petals. Each one will strip a layer away.” She waves her hand into the air. “The pollen will be for Kaden if you are able to make it that far.” She blows on her fingers but doesn’t seem to mind the smell.
“And the final rose?”
Aoife shrugs. “The final rose is to be kept and used in the final potion. That mixed with your purified blood, and hopefully your love, it will break the curse.”
Exhaling, I fist my hands and nod. So, my love and blood areneeded, but there is more. All of this is to help Kaden. I have not a full day until the moon rises high above us.
I can do this.“I’m ready.”
Aoife regards me closely. “You must understand. A barrier surrounds the mountain. No one can get those roses.”
No one has a Fairy prince as a father. “I’ve heard worse.” I shrug. “I can leave right away.”
Turning back to the palace, she leaves me to follow. Grabbing my skirt, I take off, tripping over small rocks. “This is hopeless. You think you are the only woman who fell in love with a beast.” She narrows her eyes. “You think you are the only one who has tried to break a barrier enacted centuries ago? You are not special, Dark Queen. People have died for love. You will also. It is hopeless.”
Skirting to cut the queen off, I look up into her cold eyes. “It isnothopeless because I continue to have hope in my heart. Hope that I will free Kaden from his curse and hope that I will survive. And if that is silly, then, so be it. But I intend to save my mate and walk out of this kingdom, back to our home, to defend our people.Together.”
“You think highly of yourself.” She sneers. “And of your love.”
“Because it’s true.” I cross my arms, heart beating wildly. “I loved him when he was monstrous, as he loved me. And I will continue to love him—no matter how he looks. He is my mate, my anchor in this world, the reason that I am here,” I say, emphasizing with a stomp to the ground. “He is the reason my heart beats, the reason I am in control of my magic. He has given me so much, even with his darkness, that I can offer this small sacrifice. I will not abandon him to a curse that was given to him for any reason other than birth order.”
Sniffing slightly, the queen pushes past me. I know I haven’t won her over—in fact, I think she’s only tolerating me.
