Page 69 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
“I want to learn about curses.” He furrows his brows at me. “How to break them,” I clarify.
Nikolai’s smile fades, and he leans in close to whisper in my ear. “You must be careful speaking of curses here, Alira. But I know a few books that might help you.” He pulls away and glances over my shoulder. “I think our time has come to an end. Thank you for the dance.” He bows.
I flinch and look behind me. Kalel is marching over here with a ruthless set to his brow. My attention falls back to Nikolai. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I squeeze his hands, more for self-reassurance than anything.
Nikolai nods and quickly turns to leave.
Kalel stops beside me and gives me a disappointed look. “You’re terrible at doing as I say.”
I huff as he grabs my wrist and tugs me outside. “Nikolai is just as safe as Tessa,” I shoot back.
He stops at the stairs that lead down to the garden below and faces me. “I don’t like the way he looks at you. So no, I wouldn’t say he’s as safe as Tessa,” he grumbles.
My eyes widen. Is he… jealous?
I clear my throat. “What did Gabriel have to report that was so urgent?”
Kalel presses his lips into a thin line. “You’re no longer a knight. You are my wife, and you won’t be hearing of military matters.”
I glower at him, but he ignores it and nods toward the stairs. I reluctantly follow.
We walk into the gardens. To say they are far more extravagant than anything Alzhor has would be an understatement. The flowers have a rich scent that floods my senses, leaving a soft smile on my face as the cold night greets us. That sense of belonging fills me once more, and I take it in.
“This garden is beautiful. I can’t believe how many flowers there are. I didn’t know demons had green thumbs,” I chide him.
Kalel gives me a confused look. “Only the sea dwellers have green thumbs, and even then, it’s very select species?—”
“Pfft!”
His eyes narrow, and a large smile curls his lips. “Ah, I see. It’s a jest.” He bats my nose with the tip of his finger playfully. “Do you like flowers?” Kalel stares at them with an empty gaze, like he’s only now seeing them as something beautiful.
I lift my shoulders and intertwine my fingers together behind my back as we stroll beneath the moon and through the hedges that look as if they can go on forever.
“Of course I do. They remind me that gentle, delicate things hold so much power over us.” I let my gaze lift to his.
Kalel tilts his head. “How so?”
“Because they make me smile. They welcome us home. Brighten any landscape and remind us that life is all around us. Don’t you feel better when you smile?” He nods. “Exactly.”
“Would you be happier if I planted more flowers around my palace?”
It’s a bit sad because I don’t even have to lie. “No. Your palace is already so beautiful, Kalel. This is the happiest I’ve been in a long,longtime,” I admit sheepishly.
He looks down at me with melancholy tugging at his frown. “You weren’t happy in Alzhor?”
I shake my head, feeling guilty for even speaking these words. I pray no gods hear me, but I know they will. The Krinsle told me that they watch me closer than most. What did he mean by that? I’ll need to speak with him again soon to pick his mind.
“You know how, when you are in constant, deep pain, you get used to it? You don’t realize how much misery you were in until the pain is gone. I didn’t realize how miserable I was until I left.”
I bring my hands in front of me and stare down at them. They still look smeared in the blood of demons to my weary eyes.
“I never wanted to become a merciless knight. But somewhere along the way, I lost that sense of right and wrong. I’m so sorry, Kalel. I’m?—”
Oof.I walk straight into his back. I rub my nose as I back up and lift my chin. He’s looking down at me with sympathetic eyes.
“Let’s not talk about the past. Maybe another night, but tonight we should try to be happy. It’sourday after all.” He smiles sadly at me before he continues up the path. I follow silently, listening to the hum of the garden insects.
We come upon a marbled tower, pillared with columns that look as if they’ve been built for the gods. Kalel takes us to the top balcony, three stories up. It overlooks the gardens and the palace. My lungs fill with the sweet floral air, and a weightlessness I’ve never known sinks into my chest.
