Chapter 16
She thinks it’s so simple.
“I already told you that there is no going back,” I replied. I wasn’t sure if I was more irritated that she kept gnawing at that bone, or that I was truly starting to feel guilty about keeping her here.
“You’re the Prince of Eroth. Surely if there was anyone who could bend the rules, it would be you.”
“The curse won’t let you leave,” I said, watching her carefully, wondering if she’d be smart enough to realize what exactly I was telling her.
But instead of following that line of thought to where it ended, she simply said, “All the more reason to break it then.”
This frustrating human was relentless.
Though I had to admit, she seemed genuine in her desire to help, which was more than I could say for any of the others—who couldn’t have cared less about Nico, Eroth, or me.
And yes, it was true—the curse wouldn’t allow her to leave Avalea.
The moment she had seen my magic, I had doomed her to spending her last remaining days in Eroth.
Any human who entered this world was unable to leave unless the curse was broken.
But even if it was, the fact that she had seen my magic would require her to stay anyway.
But she didn’t need to know that, right?
A quiet resurgence of hope filled my body. Maybe she’d be able to figure out how to free me after all. At least she was willing to try.
Something about Maren was different. I had sensed it in that store back in her world. It was why I had attempted to talk to her, why I’d saved her even though it put us both at risk. I didn’t want to put my faith in her. Not this close to the end when everything could fall apart.
But I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe this would finally be it. If, on the verge of losing it all, fate would finally be merciful.
No, Rhydian. There’s no hope. Do not let yourself walk that path.
“So how do we break it?” The optimism in her voice killed me, much the same way it did when I heard it in Nico’s.
The problem with Maren’s optimism was that it was contagious, and it gripped me, trying to pull me into its depths. I forced my mind to focus, pretended it was a living thing and stabbed it in the heart. I couldn’t afford to expect anything but the worst.
Especially not when she heard the cost of being the cursebreaker. The tasks themselves were dangerous enough, but she could never accomplish the final one. The hatred shining in the glare she always gave me said enough about the chances of completing it.
I shook my head. “The language of the curse is vague.”
“Between the two of us, surely we can figure it out.” When I didn’t respond, she added, “Unless you don’t want to be free.”
I blinked slowly, trying to keep my anger down at her words.
Breathe. She’s an ignorant human. If you kill her, then she can’t help you.
“You have no idea what I’ve done to try to break it,” I growled. I felt a small bit of satisfaction at the way the blood drained from her face. Her breath shuddered, her hands fisting at her sides.
“Then help me help you,” she whispered, and the sincerity of her words made me still. None of the others had ever said such words, let alone in such a genuine way. Once Carrow got involved, they didn’t say much at all.
Fury, hot and fast, burned through my blood, and I had to force myself to take several slow breaths. It was an effort to get the muscles in my hands to relax, for my fists to release.
Maren’s gray eyes bored into mine, missing nothing.
Her emotions were all over the place. Confusion, anger, empathy, sincerity, and worst of all—pity.
Normally I could decipher a person’s thoughts based on what they were feeling, but Maren was feeling too much.
It was like trying to wade through a thick pit of mud.
Finally, I recited the only line of the curse I was willing to say aloud, editing out the end to avoid more incessant questions.
When a heart of stone dares to love the one it vowed to despise,
then the curse will shatter.
Maren was quiet for a moment, her fingers rubbing absently at her wrist. The wrist with all the bruises. Why did the sight of them always make me feel protective of her?
Don’t be ridiculous, Rhydian. She’s a human. The only reason you should want to keep her safe is so that she can stay alive long enough to break the curse. The bruises don’t matter.
“Stone heart?” she asked, ripping me from my thoughts.
Her lips twisted as she repeated the words, thinking through them from every angle.
“Is it saying you have a heart of stone? Well, that’s not so bad.
What do you despise the most? Let’s find a way for you to love it instead, and then poof! You’re free.”
I blinked at her. “If it were that simple, I’d already be free.”
Her shoulders sank, as if I had gravely insulted her. “I’m trying to help you,” she deadpanned.
“No, you’re trying to help Nico.”
“Does it really matter who I’m helping? Breaking the curse is breaking the curse.”
If only she understood what that actually meant for her.
But I couldn’t tell her that.
Then there would be no chance of the curse being broken.
I would doom myself if I told her the truth.
That being: I had to fall in love with a human, and...
If she was going to free Eroth and me, she had to fall in love with me in return.
***
Maren was really annoying.
The longer I spent with her, the more she got under my skin. I didn’t know if it was the constant movement of her pacing back and forth before she’d sit for a few measly seconds before pacing again or the constant babble coming out of her mouth.
If she did end up being the one, the curse sure had a funny sense of humor of who had to fall for me.
Because there was no way Maren would ever love me.
Or I her.
There was loathing in her eyes—and fear—always battling for which emotion would be on display.
She hated me—and I supposed rightfully so.
No, she would never love me.
I could already see what would happen. She would genuinely try her best. Maren would give all of herself for it, and yet it wouldn’t be enough. I would watch the Magmara drip and drop the last of its petals, sealing my fate. Eroth’s fate. Then it would be over. She would die.
And so would I.
It was clear as day in my mind how all of this would play out.
That was if my magic didn’t lash out and kill her first. Which, with the way it was currently burning in my palms, was a real possibility.
“Aren’t curses supposed to have like…a series of things you’re supposed to do to break them?
Are you sure that was all of the curse? I thought you said there were conditions you had to meet.
I feel like we’re missing more information.
” Her fingers tangled in her hair in frustration, and I had a sudden terrifying desire to grab her hands to stop her.
Oh no, you don’t.
“I think that’s the point, human. For it not to be broken,” I drawled.
Her lips pursed, and she scowled. “I’m trying to help you, Rhydian.” She spat my name like it was a curse.
“I don’t know why you’re bothering. It’s pointless. You saw the flower. Time is almost up.”
“All the more reason to work together to figure this out.” She studied me for a second, eyes narrowing. “Do you want to die? Do you want Eroth to be destroyed, Nico with it?”
My eyes snapped to hers. “Of course not.”
“Then be a man and quit moping. Help me help you.”
“I don’t like you,” I said in response. I hadn’t meant to say the words, but they slipped through my lips before I could stop them, leaving behind an awful bitter taste.
Maren’s face darkened. “The feeling is mutual.”
Anger burned in my bones, and my magic was all too eager to jump into my palms.
Breathe.
I forced my lungs to expand, sucking in as much air as I could, then let it out as slowly as I could bear. Gradually, with each breath, the burning dissipated until it was manageable once more.
When I could finally stand the sight of her again, I fixed her with a glare.
“There are three tasks required,” I said between clenched teeth. “They weren’t included in the language of the curse, but the ones who bound me made sure to write it down elsewhere.” To taunt me, knowing I’d never be able to fulfill them.
Her face lit up at the same time reality crashed back down on me like a heavy wave. There was no way she would ever be able to accomplish one let alone all three of them, especially without magic.
She wouldn’t be falling in love with me. The other tasks were pointless if they didn’t end with her saying, “I love you.”
And if there was one thing I was confident about, it was this:
Maren would rather die than say those three words.