Chapter 27
When I began walking in the direction of Candiopolis, the spell lightened up. It tugged occasionally, a sharp reminder that my time was up.
My brief time in Blackthorn’s castle was nothing more than a dream. I’d be returning to the real world. Back to the factory where the soap and dyes burned my eyes and my back ached after a long day’s work.
Blackthorn accompanied me. We walked in silence, his arm around my waist, keeping me upright, my body still aching from the curse’s abuse.
Fran had given me a sad smile and a gentle hug before we left. I declined to see the others to say goodbye not daring to disobey the spell any longer. I could only pray that it didn’t get impatient and drag me through the Candy Forest.
“It’s a day’s walk from here to the capital,” Blackthorn commented as we stepped out of the large, looming gates that surrounded his castle and onto the overgrown road which led into the forest.
“You don’t have to come with me,” I breathed, each step making me wince.
Blackthorn paused, looking down on me. “Would you rob me of the little time I have left with you?”
Our eyes locked, my heart racing for a completely different reason now. Without answering, I shook my head. So I let him escort me into the forest, the candy cane trees filling the sky above us, hiding the stars from our gaze. A thought occurred to me.
“It’ll be light before we reach the city.” I glanced up at Blackthorn. “You’ll be stuck in the forest until the sun goes down.”
Blackthorn chuckled. “You fear for my safety?”
I pressed my lips together and nodded.
Lifting my chin, he pressed his forehead to mine. “How many times do I have to tell you that my life doesn’t matter? Only yours.”
I pulled my face away from his. “My life isn’t that important.”
“To you.” Blackthorn booped me on the nose. “Do not take away my purpose for living.”
I nodded and limped forward. Without warning, Blackthorn scooped me up into his arms. My own wrapped around his neck, staring at him in wonder and an overwhelming feeling of love. I wanted nothing more than to hold him tightly and never let him go.
I’d never been this deep into the Candy Forest. No need to, even if I was brave enough to walk into it alone.
The colorful trees were bunched close together, and the shadows grew darker, pressing in at all sides. Had anyone else walked into the forest on their own, they would fear the beasts that prowl the woods, like the one they had been torturing when I saved Blackthorn.
With Blackthorn at my side, nothing bothered us. The forest was quiet, far quieter than it should have been. I supposed Blackthorn was far more dangerous than anything else in the woods.
We didn’t stop until the roaring of water filled my ears. Around a bend, the milky white waters of the Milky Way River spread out before us. The dark chocolate sands lined the edges of the river, its waters too fast and deep to easily cross.
“Let’s rest here.” Blackthorn sat me down onto a nearby nestle of rocks. He knelt before me, his eyes taking note of every inch of my face.
Without warning, he ripped the bottom of his shirt and dipped it into the water. Returning to me, he lifted it to my face, swiping blood from my nose and lip.
“I would think you’d wouldn’t want to waste any.”
Blackthorn arched a brow. “Your blood?” He smiled a sad smile. “I would do many things to have the taste of your blood in my mouth again, but causing you pain? Never. I’d rather starve.” He shook his head and sighed. “If only I’d left you where you were.”
I cupped the side of his face with my hands, peering into his eyes. “Don’t say that. This isn’t your fault.” I smoothed my thumbs across his cheeks. “You didn’t know what would happen or how far Rumple would go to keep me.”
Now that Blackthorn had figured out that the curse was Rumple’s doing, it became easier to talk about it. Something I wish I’d had the opportunity to do weeks ago.
“Still... if I’d gone about it the right way instead of just barreling in and taking you, maybe I could have convinced the bastard to release you.”
“He never would.”
“You don’t know that,” Blackthorn countered.
I smiled softly. “I do. Rumple has never let one of his possessions go. Many families have tried and failed, whether with threats or with money. No one has left his service except through death.”
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, savoring the feel of his lips moving against mine. When I withdrew, I leaned my forehead against his.
“I made this deal. I have to see it through.”
“But—”
“Shhh.” I pressed my fingers to his lips, “You have no idea how happy it makes me to know you would fight for me.” My eyes burned with bittersweet tears. “No one has ever fought for me before. I won’t ever forget it.”
Blackthorn gripped the back of my neck, his words coming out harsh. “Do not speak to me as if we will never see each other again. You are mine.”
“Yes,” I breathed, staring up into his eyes. “I’m yours.”
He captured my mouth with his own, his tongue and teeth pulling at mine. He kissed me as if he wanted to devour me whole and I wanted nothing more than to let him.
I kissed him back with equal fervor, burying my hands in his hair, yanking him closer to me.
With my startled cry, he pulled me into his lap, my thighs straddling his waist. Blackthorn’s hand snuck between us, finding where I was still bare beneath my gown, and he rubbed at my clit until I gasped and jerked against him.
“Please, Sebastian,” I moaned, needing to have this moment with him one more time before he was barred from me forever. “I need you.”
His hand tortured me for a few moments longer before undoing his pants and he shifted, thrusting inside of me. One hand held my hip while the other braced on the rocks behind me, his dark gaze set on me with every jolt of his hips.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and met him thrust for thrust, taking as much as he gave me. This time was different than the first time, a slow burn that made my body ache and my heart swell. Blackthorn’s hips ground against mine, his voice in my ear.
“You feel so good wrapped around me,” he groaned as I squeezed him in response. “I would spend eternity worshipping you, making your scream for me.” He punctuated it with a hard thrust that made me cry out. “My favorite sound in the world.”
When my release came upon me, I clung to him, my body shaking, wanting to hold on to this moment forever. Blackthorn groaned in my ear, pressing his lips to the line of my throat before kissing me sweetly.
After a long moment of just holding each other, Blackthorn helped me clean myself with the scrap of fabric from before and then brought me to my feet.
“We better continue before the magic gets impatient.”
I inclined my head, holding onto his hand as we found our way to the bridge crossing. The wood of the bridge had seen better days. It wobbled precariously beneath our feet and threatened to sink us into the milky waters.
A large part of me hoped we’d be stopped by something or someone on the way through the forest. Anything to give us more time. Except, when the forest thinned and the walls of the city came into view, I knew my time was well and truly up.
Not wanting to drag it out any longer, I stepped toward the forest edge. Blackthorn caught my hand, bringing me back into the shadows with him.
“Sebastian,” I breathed, staring at his chest unable to meet his gaze. I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to leave him. Not without the spell forcing me to go.
“Mara.” His voice was low and full of emotion.
“Don’t make this harder, please.”
Blackthorn tipped my chin up to meet his gaze. “This is not goodbye. I will free you. Promise me.” He paused, pressing his lips to his forehead, “Promise that you’ll wait for me.”
My eyes burned as I chuckled. “Where would I go? Besides, I’m here,” I patted his chest where his heart still beat with my blood in his veins, “and, in any case, should Rumple roll over dead in his sleep, you’ll know exactly where to find me.”
Blackthorn’s gaze bore into mine. “Yes, I will. I will always find you.”