Page 48 of Cursed

“Do you know what it is?” I ask Arden as we head out the door.

“I have an idea.” He smiles and urges me outside.

My mouth falls open, and I stand frozen in awe.

The meadow outside our cottage is lit up with literal faerie lights. Flower faeries of all varieties flutter around, dancing and playing. Wood and water nymphs are dancing in a circle. It’s a scene from some fantastical painting, except my huge, handsome mates, Quade, Branden, and Rourke, are in the middle of it. Drums and flutes play songs that hum in my bones. The old songs… mostly forgotten songs. And my blood remembers them, passed down in my genetic memory. I want to frolic and dance with my loves.

“Holy pixie dust,” I whisper.

“No, but the pixies will be here in a bit,” Landis teases as he saunters up beside me and throws his arm over my shoulder. He squeezes me to his side, and I melt into my sleek yet muscular incubus.

Arden takes my hand and lifts it to his lips.

I smile up at him in a moment of pure happiness this scene has given me. I turn my attention back and watch my guys sipping from tiny cups. They look like gentle giants at a child’s tea party.

Quade is fully engaged in conversation with a tiny faerie, grinning like a nut at whatever story the little one is telling.

Branden is dancing.Dancing. He looks to be without a care. I hope that’s the case. He’s always thinking—anticipating the next bad thing to happen. He’s too much like me. But right now? It’s like we are both floating and have wings of our own.

Rourke laughs at some joke, sounding more carefree than I’ve heard in…ever.

My heart feels ready to burst.

The dragon shifter feels my eyes upon him and turns to meet my gaze. He smiles—and he could light up the night all on his own with that face. He strolls over to me and indicates the miniature cup dwarfed by his hand. “Don’t let these small servings fool you. They are potent!” He does a fake hiccup and gives me a saucy wink.

I giggle at his silliness.

When I do, the faeries all turn to me and cheer, “Sparkle Mage is here!” And the music continues.

The heat from a sudden blush floods my face, and I hide my wide grin behind my hand.

“What’s happening?” I whisper to Landis.

“They wanted to throw you a party,” he says as he places his cheek on the top of my head while we watch the little ones dancing in midair. “Might be they were just looking for an excuse to have one, but I think they are excited to have you here.”

“Why me?”

“They’ve been hinting that you’re important, but don’t give us much more than that.”

I look up at the night sky, wondering if spies could see us. “Is this safe? To be out here like this?”

Quade hears my question as he walks up to greet me. “Apparently, they have slowed time with a protective bubble they have cast. I wouldn’t allow them to risk you otherwise.”

I blink dumbly and look out onto the horizon. I see a silhouette of a flying bird caught mid-flap. “So the rumors about them stopping time are real?” My almost human upbringing makes me question the science behind that. “But how?”

“Magic,” Quade shrugs uncharacteristically. “Some things are beyond explanation.”

I suppose there is so much in our world—realms beyond explanation. The universe alone, in its size and complexity, boggles the mind. We barely comprehend how basic stuff works, and this is so far beyond that.

As I step closer, the faerie’s music thrums in my veins. I plan to convince all my mates to dance with me. Since Branden is already going at it, I grab his hand. We skip and spin, laughing with joy. One by one, I get the others to join us—Landis, Arden, and Quade first. Then Rourke finally sheds his shyness.

Dancing circles around each one, we all touch and flirt.

Several times, Quade’s attention falls onto Landis when the incubus isn’t paying attention. Through our new mate bond, I sense his suppressed interest in Landis. I wonder if he will want to pursue our incubus and hope I’m not what’s preventing him.

Finally feeling tired, I collapse on some woven-grass mats.

Quade wanders over to an oak dryad who had joined the party.

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