Page 10 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

My entire body felt heavy, like stone. I blinked, the blurs slowly solidifying into what looked like a dirt ceiling, moss and roots hanging down, but nothing made sense.

I didn’t know where I was or what I was doing. How I’d ended up here.

The ringing faded to a voice. A male’s voice that I didn’t recognize.

“Aoife, my queen. You’ve awoken.”

Queen. Aoife.

“Are you okay?” the voice said again. “Can you hear me?”

I blinked, a face coming into view. Dark wavy hair framed a strong jawline and piercing dark eyes. He was rugged, tall, muscled. His skin pale, nose with a slight curve to it. I’d never seen this man before. Had no idea who he was or what he wanted with me.

“If you take a step closer,” I rasped, “I will kill you.”

His eyes crinkled at the corners. “I’m not here to hurt you. I saved you. I broke your curse. You’ve been a statue for thousands of years, but you’re awake now. You’ve come back to us.”

His words conjured a flood of memories. Fairwitch. An execution. A choice. Hope. I’d turned myself to stone with the hope that one day the curse would be broken and I’d come back. If what this stranger was telling me was true, then it had all happened as Castle had promised.

Yes, Castle rumbled around me, the word forming in my mind and confirming that my curse had finally been broken. I was back. I was . . . free.

I winced as I pushed myself into a seated position, and the man grabbed my arm, steadying me as I swung my legs over the stone table where I’d lain, the soft fabric of this ridiculous dress swaying around my thick calves.

“How do you feel?” he asked, his thick dark brows drawing together.

I didn’t bother answering his question. “Where are my people? Where are the Fair Folk? Are they alive?”

“Yes,” he said. “Your people are safe and they’ve been waiting for you for a very, very long time.”

Relief washed over me, and for the first time, I took in the details of the little room. It was no longer a dungeon like it had been when I’d cursed myself. Instead it looked more like a cavern, roots and moss hanging from the ceiling, dirt and bramble spread across the floor. Maybe Castle had hidden me away, hoping Fairwitch would think I’d died so they wouldn’t try to destroy the statue I’d turned myself into. I couldn’t be sure, but it wouldn’t have surprised me.

“Let’s get you out of here. To the castle. There’s much to discuss.” He helped me off the table, but my legs were weak, and I stumbled into him, pressing my hands against his firm chest as he looked down at me, his expression so serious, so severe.

“Who are you?” I asked. “Why are you here with me? Why did you break the curse? How did you break it?”

Maybe he was my advisor, chosen by Castle. Or maybe he was to be my personal guard. He looked like a warrior with his toned arms, and hard chest. The bulge of his biceps were visible through the beige tunic he wore. I’d prefer one of the Fair Folk to be my guard, but I wouldn’t argue if this was who Castle wanted.

“It’s a long story,” he said, “but we should get out of here first. There are a lot of people eager to see you.”

“No.” I resisted as he pulled me. “I want answers now.”

“You really can’t wait?” There was an edge to his tone that immediately hit a nerve.

“No,” I said, “and as your queen, I command you to give me the answers I seek.”

He tipped his head, studying me, gaze roaming over my body, and I realized how much this dress revealed with its thin straps and plunging neckline.

“Very well. I think Castle wanted me to break your curse. It—I’ve felt this draw to you. This pull to the castle. Everyone else seemed to have it all figured out, your curse, how to break it. Castle was trying to help them, I think. Then it was like it called to me. I just knew I was the one who had to do it. I arrived just in time.”

None of this was making sense. “So how did you break it, then?”

His lips quirked. “True love’s kiss.”

For the first time, I noticed the crown hovering over his head. I reached up and felt a crown hovering over mine as well. Queen. That was what Castle had promised me. Freedom.

Except Castle had said nothing about a king.

I took a step back, stumbling into the stone table where I’d lain, feeling like I’d just been stabbed.