Page 128 of Cursed Lifeline

I remember Perseus and Andromeda.

I remember a vow to make her happy.

And although it’ll forever ruin me if her happiness is not found in my arms, I also remember a silent oath I made to shelter her and give her refuge whenever she needs it.

My reluctant gaze lifts and locks angrily on Viktor’s as I lace my fingers through hers and pull her tiny palm up to my lips.

Looking down into her eyes, a shiver courses up her spine as my breath feathers against her mouth and I whisper, “Where’s your focus, Evangeline?”

Her eyes search mine. Her mouth falls open and she stutters, “I, uh…”

She begins to look over her shoulder at Viktor, but I tighten my grip on her palm and sternly say, “Focus, Evangeline.”

Her breathing increases. Her jaw sets in defiance. Hostile spite fills her pale blue eyes.

Grinning, I say, “We need to stay focused to win, remember? You’re the one that once told me that.”

Outraged, Viktor steps forward. But he’s quick to come to a halt when Silas and Caelum approach threateningly from my side.

She once pushed me away because she worried I’d steal her concentration, at least, that’s what she insinuated. But she was so wrong.

Evangeline drops her gaze from mine, but I’m determined to make her finally see what I see. Cupping her chin, I gently force her eyes upward and whisper, “Maybe I never stole your focus all along,petite étoile.”

She attempts to hide her response to me calling her “little star,” but the truth is written in her eyes just like it was written in the constellations nearly a century ago.

She can try to fight it. Try to deny it. But an exchange happened between us on that hilltop as we gazed up at the stars.

She doesn’t belong with the likes of Viktor. He’d never honor her the way I’ve solemnly vowed to. Knowing so, my eyes lift and lock with his as I finish bringing her hand to my lips and tenderly kiss the top of her trembling knuckles.

“Maybe it’s finally time you understand what I’ve always known,” I whisper between the two of us.

“What’s that?” she asks breathlessly.

Glancing down, I grin as I take in the hope and trust filling her eyes. “That maybe, beyond all the misfortune and desolate circumstance, we’re each other’s guiding light.”

Evangeline frowns.

“My focus has always been centered around Felix breaking the curse,” she sternly says.

Grinning, my thumb longingly brushes across her bottom lip, “Maybe if you let me steal your focus for one night it will bring us both the clarity we desperately need.”

Viktor snarls a warning, and Evangeline rolls her eyes.

“You’d also be smart to remember Ember told us the cure.”

Shaking my head, I argue. “It’s too risky.”

“To not attempt to at least try is putting all of us all in greater danger.”

Locking eyes with Viktor, I pull Evangeline a step closer and regretfully ask, “Is that why he’s here? To ensure the curse is broken, or to lead us all into further peril when he decides to take another bite out of Esme?”

Viktor angrily steps forward.

Evangeline shakes her head, and says, “Alfred, there is something you need to understand…”

But her words are cut off as the door to the room violently flies open and crashes against the wall next to it with such brutal ferocity that all of us jump and turn to greet the enraged intruder.

Felix charges across the room towards his brother and I pull Evangeline quickly out of the way. The princess fights me, and I swallow my wounded pride as she shouts for Felix not to hurt Viktor while I hold her protectively in my arms. Viktor grins maliciously as he turns and takes in the wild eyes of his brother. He teleports quickly to the opposite side of the room, but Felix anticipates his move and beats him there. Thrusting him up against the wall, Felix pulls a stake from his side and yanks it up in the air, aiming perfectly at Viktor’s heart.

---