Page 21 of The Prince's Curse

As Kova nodded, tears cut a path through the blood on his face. “Good,” he said. He stared up at Julian intently. “You do what you have to do with me. You swear to keep Lucia safe, and I’ll do whatever I can to get Scarlett away. Anything.”

Julian nodded, then hurried out of the kitchen, his mind spinning. He slipped past Nikko, who nodded to him and closed the freezer door until it left only a sliver of light. Inside, Kova was quiet.

He found Paris and Sasha in the front of the building, in a ransacked office where a single crooked picture hung on the wall—Elsa holding up a cocktail glass with a bright smile on her face. “What do you think?” Julian asked.

“It could be an elaborate trick from Armina Voss,” Paris said.

Sasha shook his head. “I know my brother. He’s telling the truth.”

“Your brother isunder the thrall of one of the most powerful witches in existence,” Paris said. “And no offense, but you thought Kristina Arensberg was telling you the truth while she paraded you around like a big, beautiful puppet. You’re not the best judge of character.”

Sasha’s eyes narrowed. “I am not a fool.Don’t you think if she was using him as bait, he’d be able to tell us where she was and lead us into a trap? When he was with the hunters, he tried to warn me. He told me not to trust Kristina, and he gave me your names, trying to get me away from them. I would never have reached out to you if not for Kova.”

“I think he’s telling the truth,” Julian said firmly. “And I say we use him to our advantage.” Paris’s eyes cut to him. “Armina Voss is the greatest threat to our court at the moment. Even without the threat to Brigitte, we know she’s allied with the Shieldsmen. I want you to get Shoshanna and Misha here to break the spell on Kova. Then we send him back in to kill her, or at the very least, to lead the way so we can take her out.”

Sasha nodded. “I like this plan.”

Paris was already on the phone. A smile curved his lips when Misha answered with a warm hello?

“It’s work, mon chou,” he said quickly. “I need you to pick up Shoshanna and bring her to my current location. See you soon.” Then he glanced up. “Shoshanna is in rough shape thanks to him.”

“I wouldn’t say this if it wasn’t important, but I really don’t care,” Julian said. “Get her here.”

An hour later, both witches had arrived with their respective bags of supplies and books. Shoshanna was with Misha, who fixed Julian with a stern glare as he helped her into the kitchen. She leaned heavily on one of the steel preparation tables, and Misha shook his head. “She shouldn’t be doing any magic. She’s exhausted.”

“I can do it,” she said. But when she turned, Julian saw the scorch marks on her arms, the faint, angry burns on her neck and her face. Her eyes were ringed in shadow, puffy from crying.

“Let Misha do it,” Julian said, shaking his head. It felt wrong to insist on her hurting herself just for him, because deep down, that’s what this was. He could tell himself that he was trying to neutralize a threat, but this was about Brigitte.

As foolishly optimistic as he sounded, Paris was right about one thing: Shoshanna had changed everything. His brothers uncursed, and now Kova returning to them… This time would be different, even if the ending was ultimately the same.

And he had to try. Selfish as it was, he did not care if Shoshanna was tired. His lover’s life was on the line.

Shoshanna shot the blood witch a knowing look, then glanced back to Julian. “No offense to the very competent Mr. Volkov?—”

“You forgot handsome,” Misha quipped.

She smiled weakly. “But I’ve spent the last year studying and untangling Armina Voss’s magic. I have a far better chance of doing this than he does.”

Apparently unbothered, Misha nodded and said, “She’s right.”

Paris shook his head. “Are you sure? He hurt you.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I know it sounds crazy, but I feel sorry for him. He’s desperate to save her. And all of you should know very well how that feels. I told Lucia he was alive, and I don’t want to let her down.”

And before anyone could stop her, Shoshanna pulled open the door to the walk-in freezer. Wincing, she knelt in front of Kova. She wore an oversized cardigan, which she tugged around her frame to ward off the chill.

With his head bowed, he said, “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

“I don’t know if I forgive you. Hurting me was business, and I get that. But you hurt Alistair, nearly killed my brother, and?—”

Kova’s head snapped up as he cut her off. “I made her take her time. I called the police to ensure his chances.”

Her jaw dropped. “I hope you don’t think I’m going to thank you for being careful when you sliced my brother open with a knife,” she said sharply. He shook his head. “If we get through this,you owe me a grovel of epic proportions. And maybe then I can wrap my head around forgiveness. For now, you’re going to have to accept begrudging cooperation.”

His head lifted, and a strange expression crossed his face. Despite everything, Julian had to smile. Kova was coming face-to-face with sweet, stubborn Shoshanna York, who could not lose, not in a battle of witchcraft or wills.

“That’s fair enough,” Kova said hesitantly.

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