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

“Better. I don’t know if you heard, but Dad got discharged from the hospital yesterday.”

“That’s great news. How’s he doing?”

“Really good.”

“Does that mean I might be able to steal you away next weekend?”

At some point during the night I’d come up with a theory for Maria’s insistence that Peter was an incubus. She worked for the Korzhas, and they wanted me in Beaver Falls figuring out a way to break Nicolai’s curse, not in the Catskills with my boyfriend. But they didn’t get to make that call, which was something I planned on letting them all know.

“I’d like that.”

“I was hoping that’s what you’d say. Any chance you’re free today? Maybe we can get a cup of coffee.”

I was about to say yes, but then I remembered my promise to Maxim that I’d visit, and I didn’t want to let Nicolai down when he was already so upset. “Um, my dad just got out of the hospital yesterday, so I think I should stay with him just in case he needs me.”

“I could stop by with some take-out later.”

“No, that’s okay. You don’t have to do that.”

“I don’t want to wait another five days to see you.”

“How about tomorrow then? We can get lunch.”

“Okay. It’s a date.”

I swallowed down my guilt and got in the shower. The smell of eggs frying filled the air as I dressed.

“You didn’t have to cook,” I said as I joined my father in the kitchen. “I could’ve made breakfast.”

“You have many talents, Willow, but cooking isn’t one of them.” He chuckled.

Before I could feign hurt feelings at my father’s teasing, there was a knock on the door.

“That must be Barry,” Dad said.

“You’re going fishing?”

“It’s the best time of year for it.”

“You just got released from the hospital yesterday.”

Dad cocked an eyebrow. “We both know that I’m fully healed now.” He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. Before opening it, he looked over his shoulder. “Promise me that you’ll be careful, Willow.”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” I said. “Just go. Have fun with Barry.”

After my father left, I ate the breakfast he’d left on the table for me and cleaned up the kitchen. Then I drove to the castle. Nicolai opened the door at my knock.

He had dark circles under his eyes, and his hair was a mess. His face was usually shaven, but this time he had a five o’clock shadow.

I stepped inside. “Are you okay?”

He looked down, staring at the floor. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come back.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you, Nicolai.” I put my hand on his chin. He lifted his head. “I was mad yesterday, but not at you.”

“We need to talk, Willow.” He took my hand and led me down the hallway and into the drawing room, where he closed the French doors behind us.

“Yesterday, after you left, I thought long and hard about what I’d say to you if ever you came back.”

I furrowed my brows. “I’m sorry that I gave you the impression that I wouldn’t.”

“You have no idea how unbearably hard this is for me. If you storm out of here, I can’t do a thing about it. I can’t follow you to ask that you give me a chance to explain my side of things. Once you walk out of the doors of this castle, you are completely out of my reach.”

“I’m sorry—"

“It’s not your fault. My brothers and I have asked a lot from you. Too much.” He sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair. It was simply unfair that even unshaven Nicolai looked so damn perfect. “Perhaps it’s for the best that I’m stuck inside this castle, because if I wasn’t, I would’ve run after you yesterday and pleaded for you to come back.”

“And why is that?”

He shook his head. “You really don’t know?”

I shrugged. “No. I don’t.”

Nicolai inched closer to me. My heart sped up, and my stomach twisted. I had to remind myself to breathe. “I was dead inside. The only thing keeping me alive was my family. And then you came along and turned everything upside down. I live for your visits. For our conversations, for a chance to play music for you. For a chance to touch you.” He lifted his hand and brought it to my cheek. My breath hitched. He inched closer and rested his forehead on mine. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. For a moment, I wanted him to. Instead, I shook my head and backed away.

“I … I can’t do this. I’m with someone. You know that.”

His eyes narrowed, and his jaw twitched. “You mean the demon?”

I shook my head. “That’s not true. He’s not a demon. He’s just a regular person.”

“I can’t force you to believe me. I just hope you see reason before it’s too late.”

“Even if I wasn’t with Peter, it would never work between us,” I said. “You’re a prince. You have a bride waiting for you. Once Maria figures out how to break your curse, I’ll probably never see you again.”

“It’s true. At least the prince part. But the rest isn’t. Whatever bride my father chose for me could never make me feel the way you do. That’s not something I can just walk away from.”

My insides melted. He’d just said exactly what I’d wanted him to, and yet I could think of a hundred reasons not to let him in. I managed to catch my breath and reply, “You’re confused. And lonely. You’ve been trapped in this castle for so long, and then I come along …”

Before Nicolai could respond, the doors swung open, and in walked Maria followed by Frederic, Alexander and Maxim. Nicolai looked over his shoulder, glaring at them. “What do you want?”

“To tell you and Willow that Maria thinks she’s found a way to break your curse,” Maxim said.

“Are you serious?” I asked, relieved not only that Maria had come up with something but that they’d interrupted. A minute more and