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

I smiled and nodded.

Nicolai turned his head and pointed left. “Down that way is my father’s bedroom. And in the other direction, my mother’s.”

“They sleep in separate rooms?”

Nicolai nodded. “Theirs wasn’t exactly a love match. They tolerate each other, but that’s about it.”

“That’s … sad.”

“It’s not an uncommon situation in royal families where people don’t necessarily marry for love.”

Common or not, it was a depressing thought to the romantic in me who dreamed of falling madly in love one day, marrying the man of her dreams, and living happily ever after.

“This place goes on forever,” I said, changing the subject.

“No, it doesn’t. In fact I never imagined that a castle as big as this one could feel so small,” Nicolai muttered.

“Oh, Nicolai. I’m sorry. Sometimes I say things without thinking first.”

“That’s a good thing. I always appreciate when someone speaks their mind,” he said. “And besides, you’re right. I remember when my father first brought me here as a child. I thought I’d never finish exploring this castle. But now, well, things are different.”

I wanted to promise Nicolai that they wouldn’t be for much longer, but how could I know that was true?

“Can I ask a favor?” Nicolai said.

“Of course.”

“I’d like to hold your hand. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to touch someone without feeling like I was being set on fire.”

My heart skipped a beat. I reached for Nicolai’s hand and threaded my fingers through his. He smiled at me, and a million butterflies took flight in my stomach. All I could think about as we headed back to the library was how wrong my attraction to Nicolai was. And yet I couldn’t tear myself away.

“Thank you for the tour,” I said, breaking our silence.

“One day I hope to be able to show you the grounds as well.”

“You will.”

“Willow.” Nicolai stopped walking and turned to face me. “Promise you’ll never lie to me. I know that deep down inside you want to help me, but we both know there are no guarantees.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lie. I’m just trying to be hopeful.”

“I know. And I appreciate it. I really do. But hope can be a dangerous thing. At least for me.”

I nodded, and we continued to walk, not stopping again until we reached the library.

“That’s not even half of the castle, but I’d like to save the rest for another day if that’s okay with you,” Nicolai said.

“Of course.”

We stepped inside the room. Someone had brought up a dinner tray. Nicolai handed me a plate which I filled, even though I had no appetite. We sat down, and I picked at my food.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. I’ve just got some things on my mind,” I said.

“Like what?”

“Like that I should tell you that I’ll be out of town the weekend after this one.”

“Oh? Where are you going?”

“To the Catskills. My boyfriend has a cabin there.” There, I’d said it. This was the second time I’d mentioned Peter to Nicolai. I’d made it clear that I was involved with someone. I worried that by agreeing to hold his hand I’d sent him mixed signals. Or maybe I was reading more into Nicolai’s gestures than I should have. After not being able to touch anyone for two long years, Nicolai was probably starved for human contact, and I was the only one who could give it to him.

“He’s a lucky man,” Nicolai said. “I hope he realizes how special you are.”

“He does.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Are you in love with this boyfriend of yours?”

“Well, we haven’t been together for that long, so I wouldn’t quite say I’m in love with him, but I think I’m getting there.”

“Has he ever come to one of my brother’s dinner parties?”

“No, he hasn’t.”

“Perhaps I should tell them to invite him. I’m curious to see what he’s like.”

Peter would ask me to come with him. I wasn’t sure how I felt about being in the same room with both him and Nicolai. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Peter can get a bit jealous sometimes. It might be a little uncomfortable.”

“He doesn’t know about our friendship?”

I shook my head. “No. The way I figure things is once your curse gets lifted, you’ll be on a plane headed back to your country to meet your future princess, so there really is no reason for me to say anything to Peter.”

Nicolai took a sip of water. “What if you can’t break my curse? What if my brothers and I are doomed to spend the rest of our lives in Beaver Falls? What will happen to our friendship then?”

“It’s not going to happen that way.” I hadn’t really thought this whole situation with Nicolai through, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Because if I did, I’d be faced with hard truths I didn’t want to admit to myself. Like that my insides did strange things when I was around Nicolai, and that I was attracted to him in a way I’d never been attracted to anyone in my life. Not even Peter. But unlike Nicolai, I possibly had a future with Peter. He wanted me, and he was handsome and successful and not promised to a princess in a country I’d never even heard of until a few days ago.

“You don’t know that,” he said.

“Why don’t we just take things one day at a time?”

Nicolai put his glass down and stood. As I looked up at him, he turned his back to me. “That’s easy for you to say. You aren’t the one imprisoned inside your own home.”

That was the first time I’d heard him sound angry. I wasn’t sure how to respond. Nothing I thought of seemed enough. “If the shoe were on the other foot, and I was the one stuck in here, what would you do?” I finally asked.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Nicolai turned around and fixed his gaze on me.

I was tempted to challenge him and demand