Page 48 of Once Charmed, Twice Cursed
“But you know Brendan’s only marrying me to Alverton for his own sake.”
He chews on that for a moment. “Yes. And part of me hates him for that. Even though he’s my best friend.”
“But why?” The shrillness of my tone surprises me. “Why do you still think of him that way when he denied you? When he’s so...selfish? Greedy?”
Weston sighs, but doesn’t break from my gaze, like he usually does. That simple fact tells me we’ve surpassed some barrier. A new trust expands between us, soft and fresh, like the newly unfurled wings of a butterfly, poised to harden in the sun.
“Because there’ve been three people in my life,” he says, “who’ve treated me like I matter. One of them is you.”
He props his elbow on the armrest and ticks off names on his fingers. “The second is Helena. Your brother’s the third. So, yes, Brendan may be selfish. And greedy. But he wasn’talways that way. And he’s one of the only people I’ve ever been able to justexistwith. Everyone else stays away, and it’s better like that, but him...he was always different. Maybe because he had a Charm for a sister, and could afford to spend time with a Null without suffering for it, but he was my friend when friends were a luxury I couldn’t afford. And that means something to me. More than I can put into words.”
Whatever retort I had planned deserts me. I can’t argue with that. I would never presume to deny him what he considers his sole true friendship.
“Okay. I think I get it.” And I do. “But...that doesn’t mean we have to listen to him. We could get married on our own and tell him afterward. He’d have no choice but to deal with it, then. My parents, too, if they ever come home. And that’s the only way the duke’s men will stop coming for me. The only way out of this that doesn’t involve me marrying Alverton.”
His mouth flattens to a thoughtful line, and my heart lifts. Fortuna’s blessings, he’s actually thinking about it.
“Is that really what you want?” he finally says. “To marry someone who can never fully please you?”
“You pleased me just now.” The words tumble out. “That was...”Everything Theodore couldn’t manage, I almost say.
Weston’s lips twist, as if I’ve made the declaration out loud.
I swallow and change tacks. “Incredible. Even better than I’d hoped. And trust me, I’d hoped. Endlessly. And also, I love you. In the permanent, branded-on-my-soul kind of way. I love you so much that I’d gladly take just half of you over the entirety of any other man.”
His eyes widen, and then he closes them, as if basking inthat. When he refocuses on me, he looks faintly awestruck. “I never dreamed I’d actually hear you say that to me.”
I make a soft, plaintive sound. “I’ve been wanting to say it for ten years. It’s been true, all that time.”
A wealth of emotion passes over his face—nearly every feeling I can put a name to, except anger.
His fingers tap rhythmically against the chair. “If we did this...”
Every muscle in my body winds tight. He’s actually talking about this. Considering this. I can scarcely believe it.
“...itwouldsolve some problems. Problems I don’t have any other solution to.”
My heart takes a flying leap into my throat.
“I’d be able to protect you,” he says. “From the duke, at least. And from Brendan’s bad decision-making.”
“Yes.” The word comes out as a cry, so freighted with joy I’m surprised it doesn’t break in half. “You could.”
“But...” He searches my face. “You couldn’t ever touch me. You understand that, right? You’d have to keep your promise. Because I’m only so strong. It’s taken everything I had just to stay away from you these past weeks.”
That tender thing in my throat swells and hums. “Yes. Okay. I could do that. If it meant being your wife.”
Hope and hesitation mingle in his eyes. “Maybe I should’ve considered the upsides of wet nightgowns earlier. It just…didn’t occur to me that it would ever be an option.”
My laugh comes out half-sob. Something is happening. A future is coming to life around us, like spring blooms pushing through the snow after a long, lean winter. The room lightens and brightens and wraps me in warmth.
“You know, when I built this place,” he says quietly, “I didn’t actually plan to wall these rooms off.”
I suck down an inhale. He looks taken aback, like he’s already shocked by what he’s about to say.
I hold still. I don’t dare interrupt.
“I...meant to build an open archway,” he says haltingly. “But on the day I went to do it, I just kept mortaring. Stone after stone. A whole wall. Solid. And when I stepped back to look, I felt like an idiot. Because I knew exactly what I’d done, and why. Deep down, I dreamed of having you here. You on your side, me on mine. Together but apart. Like you said.”
