The Cursed Prince by Teresa Roman (reading e books txt) 📕

dinner, so I had no idea why I suddenly felt so unsteady on my feet. Thankfully, my father was either not home or already sleeping. I was too tired for small talk; all I wanted to do was go to bed. As soon as I changed into pajamas, I got under the covers. Before I knew it, I fell fast asleep.

Chapter 10

As tired as I had been, I should’ve slept until the morning. Instead, I woke up in the dead of night, sweating and shaking from a dream I’d just had. My heart pounded in my chest as I replayed it in my head.

I’d gone to visit Nicolai. He walked me to the door of the castle to say good-bye. I stepped outside and headed toward my car. Halfway there, I heard the sound of an animal growling and turned my head, searching for where it came from. A few feet away stood a wolf, grey and larger than I’d imagined one would be, with its teeth bared.

“Run,” Nicolai commanded.

Without hesitation I took off, but I wasn’t fast enough. The wolf caught up and lunged at me, knocking me to the ground. It stood on my chest, staring down at me.

“Leave her alone,” Nicolai pleaded. Since he was trapped inside the castle, all he could do was watch, helpless.

“Please don’t hurt me,” I begged.

The wolf snapped at me, ready to sink its fangs into my flesh. I screamed, and then suddenly my eyes flew open, plunging me into darkness. It took a moment before I realized where I was and that I’d been dreaming.

My father knocked on my door. “Willow, are you okay? I heard you screaming.”

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. “Sorry, Dad. I just had a bad dream. Go back to bed.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Normally, I could push a bad dream out of my head and get back to sleep, but not this one. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that wolf readying itself to attack. I lay in bed haunted by the image. Unlike other dreams, I knew why I’d had this one—because of what Nicolai’s brothers had done to the witch that cursed him. Would I suffer a similar fate if I couldn’t help Nicolai?

By the time I got dressed for work, I’d gone from being scared to being angry. That feeling fueled me through the day, even though I’d only had a few hours of sleep. As soon as I got off work, I drove straight to the castle and pounded on the door. This time Maxim answered.

“Willow. We weren’t expecting you, but I’m pleased to see you.”

“Yeah, well, you might not be so pleased after you hear what I have to say.”

Maxim frowned. “You seem upset.”

“Just so you know, I’m helping Nicolai because he doesn’t deserve to be punished for something your brother did, not because I’m afraid you and your brothers will rip me to shreds.”

“Has Frederic threatened you?” Maxim seemed genuinely upset at the prospect. “He swore he’d be on his best behavior.”

“No. But Nicolai told me what happened to the witch that cursed him.”

“I see. So you’re afraid that if you can’t break Nicolai’s curse that we’ll do the same to you?”

“I’m not afraid.”

Maxim studied my expression. “That’s right, you’re not afraid. You’re angry. But perhaps if you knew the full story you wouldn’t be.”

“Nicolai already told it to me.”

“He couldn’t have, because he doesn’t know it.” Maxim and I walked down the hallway that led to the foyer. “My brothers and I begged and pleaded for the witch who cursed Nicolai to have mercy. We offered her money. Frederic even asked that she curse him instead, but her answer to every request we made was no. She deliberately hurt our family and took pleasure in it.”

“Frederic hurt her family first.”

“Don’t tell me you think her revenge fit his crime?”

“Of course I don’t. But that didn’t mean you had to kill her.”

“Don’t blame Nicolai for our actions. He had no part in what happened to the witch who cursed him. In fact, he was angry with us for what we did. Nic has always been the most gentle and merciful of us. Which is why my brothers and I are so angry that he’s been made to suffer.”

“I don’t blame him.”

“Nicolai enjoys your company. You’re important to him, which means you’re important to the rest of us. None of us would dream of hurting you. Frederic is the eldest brother, so he’s protective of us. But I swear, he’s all bark and no bite.”

“Unless I step out of line. Then all bets are off, right?”

“Do you intend on hurting Nicolai?”

“Of course not.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

“Where’s Nicolai?” I asked, suddenly eager to get away from Maxim, who as far as I was concerned wasn’t much better than Frederic.

“In the salon, having dinner with a guest,” he replied. “Someone we were hoping to introduce you to, so your timing is perfect.”

I walked with Maxim until we reached the salon. Seated at the same table where I’d had dinner only a few nights ago were Nicolai and a woman I’d never seen before. She looked to be about the same age as I was. Her wavy dark hair spilled down her back. She smiled at me as I took a step closer, revealing perfect straight white teeth. Her eyes, so dark they were almost black, sparkled. She wore a white blouse decorated with blood-red embroidery that matched her long, almost floor-length skirt. On anyone else, her outfit would have looked like a costume, one that those fortune tellers and psychics who owned shops downtown liked to wear, but on her, it fit, accentuating her exotic features.

“Maria,” Maxim said.

The woman stood.

“I’d like you to meet your new student, Willow Duncan.”

So this was the witch who was going to unbind my powers and teach me magic. I pasted a smile on my face as she held her hand out. I stepped forward to