Page 119 of Cursed

I’m standing in a small forest clearing. I glance down at my body and see I’m made up of a galaxy of sparkles.

My guys are all behind me. I lock eyes with them, first with Landis and then the others. They arereallyhere too—whereverhereis.

“Shayla the Sparkle Mage, we finally meet,” a gorgeous fae female now stands before me. Her hair is much the same shade as my honey-colored brown. But her eyes glow a golden brown instead of my lavender. She wears a flowing gown and a simple crown of silvery metal on her head.

Could this really be the Fae Queen?

Three handsome elves appear behind her. All of them smile at me too, but one catches my eye more than the others—purple eyes, just like mine. Even the same shape. He winks at me like he knows what I’m wondering and nods. If the Fae Queen truly is my ancestor, then he might be my great-great (I don’t know how many) great-grandfather.

My attention shifts back to the queen. I’m calmed by her appearance, but I don’t know if it’s just because she looks so much like me. However, I think it’s the emotion I recognize in her eyes—love.

But why would the Fae Queen love me?

“Are you—?” Wait… I don’t know what to ask or do. Are you supposed to curtsy with royalty or bow? So I do a weird, awkward genuflect.

She smiles, clearly amused by my attempt but not teasing me.

I catch sight of my guys all bowing behind me.

“No need for formalities on this plane of existence.” She waves for us to stop.

“What planearewe on?” I glance around again. But it seems to be all fog beyond the bright foliage that exists just in this small clearing.

“The veil between life and death.”

“I’m dead?” I pat myself down, expecting some injury.

“Oh, no, my dear.” She rushes forward and takes my hands in hers. “You are not, but it is our time to move on and make way for the new.”

Closer up, I see fine lines around her eyes. She’s supposed to be almost a thousand years old. And other than some wrinkles, she’s still a smoke show. I doubt I will look that hot when I’m forty, even with my fae blood.

The queen smiles.

“You can hear my thoughts, can’t you?” I blush when she nods. “Well, you are hot.”

“I cannot argue with our progeny about that.” The lavender-eyed elf chuckles.

“And our heir,” she adds. Her graceful hands lift her delicate crown off her head, and she hovers it over me.

I gape at her. “But—wait, what?”

“I name you as the new Queen, my heir, my successor, the future of fae-kind.” She holds the crown by her heart as she lets me process this new information.

“Because of my magic?” I ask.

“You’re going to lead the supernaturals into a new era. As you share your unique ability and your generous, kind spirit, you will heal the magical world.”

“How do you know this?”

“One of my gifts is prophetic visions.” One hand strokes my cheek, and I almost weep with the centuries of love she holds within her. “I had a fleeting vision of you a millennium ago. I’ve been waiting to finally meet you for a long, long time.”

Now I do let the tears pour down my face. I just met this beautiful soul—a soul who I have a deep cosmic connection to. But I know that she’ll be gone as soon as I accept my crown. Besides, I’m in sheer shock of being named her heir and aflippingqueen. I don’t want to say yes because I want to keep her here with me for much longer than this passing moment.

She continues, “I’m sorry things unfolded the way they did for you. For the past twenty years, I have been fading from the physical plane. I had no real ability to help. My mates and I could not fight the injustice as you and your coven were able to do. As you suffered, I could only watch in horror during my visions of what was happening.” A tear trails down her cheek. “It pains me greatly that one of my descendants could be so cruel to their own daughter.”

“That isn’t your fault.”

She frowns, apparently feeling grief, guilt, or both. “I’m so proud of you that you were so strong.” She glances at my mates. “And that you all were there for each other. You were able to grow, heal, and learn to love.”

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