Page 131 of The Prince's Curse

Inside, Julian stamped his feet and yanked open the drawers one at a time, feeling stupid as he searched for another snake.

Scarlett sat on the cushioned plastic table, staring at him blankly. “What the hell, Julian?”

“I don’t know,” he murmured. He clutched her cheeks, kissed her softly, then pressed his brow to hers. He listened for her pulse, that thundering drumbeat that said I’m still here, you haven’t lost me yet.

He broke away, trying to compose himself as he rooted through the cabinets for a soft cloth, then wet it in the sink. She didn’t protest as he came closer, holding her chin gently as he cleaned the blood from her face. “Were you hurt?”

“Not really,” she said, closing her eyes as he inspected her forehead. There was a small gash caked in blood, though the wound was already closed. He gently wiped it clean, then worked his way across her pretty face. Her head tilted, until she leaned into his hand.

When her face was clean, he examined her hands and arms. A single shard of glass was embedded in her skin, but she didn’t flinch as he carefully pulled it out before bandaging her arm.

“You’re not bad at this,” she said quietly.

“Thanks,” he murmured. When he was done, he sat on the table next to her. It groaned under the added weight, but didn’t give way. She leaned into him, head on his shoulder, and he resisted the urge to blurt thank God. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t think so,” she said. “I don’t think I’m going to be okay until this is over. Shoshanna finished drawing the spell, but it was really hard on her. I’m afraid she’s risking too much to help me.”

“She’s smart,” Julian said weakly. “But…you’re not wrong. I wish I could say that she always respects her limitations, but that’s not true.”

Not long ago, Alistair had told him how he’d found her unconscious, nose bleeding after she broke the curse on Lucia. Even knowing the risks she faced, Shoshanna kept chasing the answer. And that was for a stone statue who had long been cursed, not a living, breathing woman who had shared meals with her, had slept in her home.

And God, did he hate himself, but he also couldn’t bring himself to tell her no. If it meant having Scarlett here with him, then he would risk anything and anyone.

He checked the infirmary’s kitchen and found a bottle of orange juice, which he brought back to Scarlett, along with a couple of aspirin. While she was slowly drinking the juice, he received a text from Misha letting him know that Shoshanna had returned, and they were ready for a debriefing. He confirmed that they’d be over shortly, then tucked his phone away.

After finishing the small bottle of juice, Scarlett covered her face with her hands, breathing deeply. He hesitated, then settled down next to her and put his arm around her. “We’re going to be all right.”

“I don’t think you believe that,” she said quietly, turning to look at him. But she leaned in to kiss him before letting out another soft sigh. “We should meet the others.”

As she rose, he caught her hand and pulled her back. Her brow furrowed, but he clasped her hands between his. “It won’t always be like this.”

There were a thousand dark shadows swirling behind those beautiful eyes, and he didn’t need magic to know the shape of those fears.

How did he know? How could he be sure? Hadn’t he failed over and over?

But she leaned in to kiss his brow. “I hope you’re right.”

Hand in hand, they trudged out of the building. Julian grabbed Scarlett before she could step into the grass, then hiked her onto his back. Her peal of giggles warmed his heart as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He bent to grab the still-warm body of the strange snake, then warned her, “Hold on tight.”

In a burst of cool air, he bolted across the property, praying that whatever death magic Armina wove couldn’t keep up. Moments later, he stopped at Building Five, carefully entering the code and sealing the door behind them before he let Scarlett down to the ground.

Inside Misha’s workshop, Shoshanna sat on a stool and dutifully looked up at Misha as he brushed a cool cloth over her brow. “You know you’re not a nurse, right?” she said quietly.

“I’m the best you’ve got, tsarevna,” he said. “Your magic smells wrong. No more tonight.”

Her brow arched, and she looked over the edge of Misha’s firm hand and smiled, a little wide and giddy given the circumstances. “Hi, boss,” she chirped. Her pupils were blown out, nearly covering her warm brown irises. “Crazy night, huh?”

“Are you drunk?” Julian asked.

“A little,” she said brightly.

Misha chuckled. “I gave her something to calm down her magic and ease her headache,” he said. “She needs to sleep soon, but we wanted to debrief about what happened.”

Fifteen minutes later, he was no closer to understanding what had happened, but he’d at least gotten their version of it. “You think it’s a trick?” Julian asked. “I don’t know about Stella.”

Scarlett frowned and shrugged. “I really don’t know. She hasn’t worked for Armina long, maybe three or four years. She went with Kova to attack Shoshanna’s brother,” she said, wincing a little.

Shoshanna scowled and muttered, “Bitch.”

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