Page 42 of This Is Not True Love’s Kiss

“It was the right thing to do,” Ceri said. “If he had a hundred chances, he’d do it a hundred times.”

Ronan nodded in agreement.

Just like that, the flame died. Of course that was why Lor would break my curse. Not because he wanted to rule by my side but because it was the right thing to do, and he was incapable of doing anything else. The prisoner sitting here alive and well was proof of that.

I stared at the jug of wine sitting in front of me, then reached out and grabbed it, filling my wine glass once again.

“Um, should you be drinking . . . oh my, that’s full, very full,” Marsten said.

I ignored him, filling it to the rim and raising my glass. “Cheers,” I said as I tipped my head back and drank.

CHAPTER 20

Lor

Ithrew down a card, and Cillian groaned, slamming his own cards down as we played in the parlor, where we met every week.

“Well, I’m out. Thanks for that, Lor.”

Ambrose and Wolfe sat across from me at the round table, both of them studying their cards. I couldn’t help sneaking glances at the faerie, remembering the way he’d held my wife during the dance, the way she’d gazed up at him, so happy, so free.

She’d loved him once. I didn’t know if she still loved him, but I suspected he loved her.

It was none of my business . . . except Aoife had saved my life. She could’ve let Ronan kill me in that dungeon. My death would’ve solved every one of her problems, and she wouldn’t have been to blame. But she’d saved me. Not only that but she’d saved me using the magic she hated. Unlike the other Fair Folk, Aoife never used her magic, and Fargus had told me she’d always hated it, hated using anything that came from the godwitches.

And she’d done the one thing I couldn’t do and let the community decide. She’d set me free from having to make that decision myself.

My hand flexed, a tingle shooting through it at the feel of her pinky brushing mine, of how we’d just sat there side by side, barely touching.

The vine next to me poked me in the ribs, and I jumped.

I looked over at the sentient creature as it rose up like a snake, pointing to the cards in my hands.

“Vine,” Nevan warned from the other side of the creature. “Be patient.”

The creature belonged to Nevan’s wife, Enid, the demi-godwitch of monstrous plants. This was her own creation, a python vine that acted more like a snake than a plant. And somehow, Nevan had convinced us to let it join in for our card games.

“Sorry,” I said, clearing my throat and turning my attention to my cards.

“You’re distracted.” Cillian pointed a finger at me. “You’re never distracted. You always win. It’s actually really obnoxious.”

Wolfe heaved a sigh and laid down his hand. “Are we playing cards anymore?”

“Yes,” I said at the same time as Vine shook its head “no.”

“Is everything okay?” Nevan asked, peering at me through his round spectacles. “You do seem a little distracted tonight.”

“Does it maybe have to do with your wife?” Cillian asked with a raised brow.

“No,” I said at the same time as Vine nodded “yes.”

I slammed my cards down, the table rattling, everyone’s eyes widening. “There’s always something wrong between me and Aoife. It’s nothing new.”

“But something has you rattled,” Wolfe said, staring at me with his dark brown eyes, assessing and sharp.

“Yes. No. I—” Fuck.

“Is your plan not going well?” Cillian asked. “I heard she attended a council meeting the other day.”