Page 104 of A Curse of Hope and Shadows: Part I
“Dimitri,” she prompted, “the story.”
“Right,” he said, and cleared his throat. “Anyway. So, this castle was guided by a fearsome talking beast, said to guard some great treasure. Many had ventured into the forest to face the monster, but they all returned, scared out of their wits.”
“I like that they didn’t get eaten.”
“Hush! I never interrupt you!”
“You interrupt me all the time!”
“Not this frequently.” He grumbled something incomprehensible, and continued. “Eventually, one simple village maiden, armed with only her wits, approached the castle. No sooner had she past the gates, than the monster pounced… but seeing she had no weapons, he withdrew momentarily.
“‘Why have you come unarmed to my fortress?’ The monster demanded.
“The maiden replied, ‘I don’t know, why do you scare everyone?’
“The monster had no response to the sharp-tongued maiden, but he found himself intrigued by her, so he invited her into his castle. The maiden was shocked to find it a fine, beautiful place. With a wave of his hand, the monster summoned a banquet for them, but the maiden, fearing that he perhaps intended to fatten her up, found she had little appetite. When she revealed her hesitation to the monster, he laughed, and said he half expected her to try to poison it. Despite this rocky start, the two found they rather liked each other’s company, and the monster invited the maiden to stay with him.
“The maiden, however, refused to live there for nothing. She insisted on offering something in return, so every night she told him she would give him a story in return for food and lodging. This suited both parties, and the deal was struck.
“For weeks, the maiden told him stories, and he felt something stirring deep inside him, and she, in turn, felt herself growing closer and closer to this strange monster, who did not seem like much of a monster at all. One night, he asked her why she had come to his castle in the first place, and she responded, ‘I was looking for you’ before leaning across and kissing him on the snout.”
“Does he transform into a handsome prince?”
“No,” said Dimitri, grinning. “She turns into a monster.”
Adeline blinked up at him. “Was she always a monster?”
“I don’t think either of them were,” he replied. “I think what they truly were—was the same.”
A sleepy smile, like sunshine and starlight, drew from her toes to her teeth. “I think I like that story.”
“I do, too.” He was so close to her now, his talons resting beside her head, his fingertips grazing her bare arm. She felt like light and honey, summer days brewed and bottled.
“I like you stroking my hair,” she whispered.
His grin grew wider. “I like stroking it.”
“No one’s stroked my hair since Mama… well, maybe the little ones, but not nicely. It’s nice when you do it. It’s different when you do it. Everything’s different with you…” She reached out to slide a hand around his waist, pulling him closer to her, further into the bed. “Dimitri?”
“Yes?”
“I think you might be my favourite person in the entire world. Well, except maybe for Edie, but she’s my baby. I can’t talk to her. But you…”
I can tell you everything. I’ve shared my tattered soul with you. I’ve let you know everything.
Almost everything.
“Have you been drinking?”
She laughed, eyelids growing heavy. “Just a little bit. Why? Do you think I don’t mean it? I do, you know. I mean everything I say…”
She felt him shift beside her, lowering himself to the pillow so that their noses were almost touching. She wished she had the strength to open her eyes, wished she had more words for him, but her mouth and thoughts were turning gummy and dark.
“You’remyfavourite person,” he whispered, his breath touching her cheek. “Absolutely. Unequivocally.”
In a low, soft voice that reminded her of lullabies and firelight, he told her other things, other things she feared she would not remember, lost to the quiet tug of sleep. She could still feel his arms around her, his fingers in her hair, and she drifted off with a feeling of safety and contentment she’d thought lost, long, long ago.
I wonder if a kiss would save you,was her last conscious thought.I wonder if we’re both the same, too.
