Page 118 of The Prince's Curse

“Agreed,” Scarlett said, sparing a smile. “I appreciate that. Should we get started?”

“Let me have a look at you,” Shoshanna said.

But as she reached out, Scarlett stepped back slightly. “Aren’t you supposed to take precautions? Potions and grounding and all that stuff you did yesterday?”

Despite being turned down, Shoshanna chuckled. “Well, you’re certainly part of the family now if you’re telling me how to conduct my business,” she said wryly. “Give me a couple of hours and we’ll get started.”

Chapter 28

When Julian awoke with the scent of Scarlett still heavy in the air, he stared at the ceiling and smiled. There was the sweetness of her hair, the familiar soap of laundry detergent, tinged with the faintest hint of Olivia who’d loaned her clothes. And there was her, as familiar as the first day they’d met. She was on his lips, on his tongue, on his fingers.

For a moment, he remembered what it was like to wake up with her stroking his cheek, the heavy weight of daylight leaving him with each gentle caress. Turning his head, he found himself alone in bed. He sat bolt upright, fear shoving away his contentment.

“Scarlett?” he asked, looking around frantically. He stopped long enough to pull on his pants before bursting out of the bedroom and into the hall. “Scarlett!”

God, no. Her birthday had come and gone, and if Shoshanna’s theory was right, then?—

“In my workshop,” Shoshanna called from down the hall. In a split second, he was through the door, still wrapped in that wash of dread and panic. Her dark eyes were filled with concern as she looked up at him. “She’s here.”

Scarlett sat in a chair across from Shoshanna. When she looked up and smiled at him, he fought the urge to go to her and cage her in his arms. How was he supposed to protect her if he slept? Damned fool.

“Have you made any progress?” he asked.

“We’ve been working at it,” Shoshanna said. She glanced at Scarlett. “The curse is complex, but at least it’s not burning my retinas to look at her now.”

He hesitated. “So something has changed, then. As you expected.”

The human witch nodded.“It’s like Ursula suggested. Almost like a layer has been peeled back.”

“How long will it take to figure out?”

“A while,” Shoshanna said. “It’s still taxing for both of us.”

“Tonight?”

She shook her head. “Definitely not. I’m sorry. Maybe two more days.”

That was an eternity, so much time for Armina’s malice to catch up to her. In the past, it had happened within hours. They couldn’t wait. He held back his concerns, knowing it would only make the two women even more tense. Instead, he asked, “Is there anything I can do to help it along?”

Shoshanna gave him a tentative smile. “Honestly, the best thing you can do is go find something to keep yourself busy. Unless you’ve become a magic expert during the day, there’s nothing I need. And surely you have work to do as the court’s Elder.”

“Was that a very nice way of telling me to fuck off and find something to do?” he asked.

Her eyebrows arched as she flashed her bright white grin at him.

“Perhaps you should take over the court in my stead. You are much wiser than I am,” he said.

“Way too much responsibility,” she said sweetly. Then she nudged Scarlett. “Why don’t you take a little break? I know you want to give him a kiss.”

Scarlett’s cheeks flushed. “How do you?—”

“I can see the soulmate bond, and it’s like a neon sign now that he’s in the room,” Shoshanna said with an indulgent smile. “I get it. Bring me some coffee and a snack when you come back, please.”

Scarlett hurried to the door and closed it behind her. Her lips curved into a smile as she rose on her toes for a kiss, warm hands sliding over his bare chest. Hunger growled in his chest as he grabbed her waist and lifted her easily, pressing her to the wall as she let out a surprisedoh! into his open lips.

“Good evening to you, too,” she said with a laugh. He sealed her laughter with a lingering kiss, then pulled back. She gazed at him, clearly not bothered by being pinned to the wall with her legs around his waist. “Are you okay?”

He nodded. “I was worried when I woke up without you.”

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