Page 49 of Once Charmed, Twice Cursed
My throat tightens. The fact that he’s imagined a life with me, even if we can never join in the way we both crave, sets my soul ablaze.
“Together but apart,” I whisper.
His brow creases. “Would that really be enough for you?Canit be?”
“Yes.” It’s absolutely enough. It’s everything.
“You’d have to be sure. Completely.”
“I am.” No hesitation.
He chews on his lip. Silence presses in from all sides, and I hold my breath. Whatever he says next will decide everything.
“Then...” He pauses, as if trying his answer out in his head before giving it. “I guess I should propose. Again.”
I take a second to process the words. When their meaning settles, joy floods me, preserving the moment in perfect diamond clarity. This time, there’s no coercion, no desperation. Just Weston and I choosing each other, of our own free will.
“Yes.” I can barely get the word out, it’s so loaded withwonder. “That’s your answer. Yes. Forever yes. You don’t even have to ask.”
A telltale glint rises in his eyes. But he clears his throat and pulls himself to standing. He comes close and peers down, and he’s so...pure right now. Unadorned. More himself than he’s ever allowed me to see before.
“I’d choose half of you, too,” he says. “I’d choose your little toe, even. Over any other woman.”
Emotion rushes up my throat. I long to rise on tiptoes and feather my mouth against his. It would be safe, probably, if it only lasted a moment. But I crush the urge in a ruthless fist, because I made a promise. One I won’t break. Besides, this will be my life, now—resisting him. At least until the day he changes his mind.
If he ever does.
“We’ll go tomorrow?” he says. “And put an end to this idea of you marrying Alverton?”
“Tomorrow,” I agree, my heart bursting into song. “Where?”
“One town over. Ravenfell. No one will know us there. As long as we cover our Marks.”
“Yes. Anywhere.” My gaze falls to his mouth. It’s a beautiful mouth, as sharply defined as the rest of him. “I can’t wait.”
He smiles. It’s small but genuine, and I can’t believe that this whole time, all I had to do was promise never to touch him.
“Get some rest,” he says. “All right?”
Words fail me. I nod.
He looks like he wants to reach for me, but he doesn’t, of course. “I wish we didn’t need a wall between us. But I don’t trust myself without one. I’d probably find my way from mybed to yours in my sleep. Do something that can’t be undone, without even meaning to.”
I manage another nod.
“So I’ll see you in the morning, Birdie. All right?”
“All right.”
A moment later, he’s tugging on his underwear and gathering his clothes. He slips out the door, closing it softly behind him, and I stand in the flickering firelight, my arms wrapped around myself. On the far side of the wall, Weston bustles around. The sounds fill my ears like a symphony.
Together but apart. And tomorrow, I’ll be his wife. We’ll pledge our lives to one another, even if we can never touch.
It might be less than I wanted, and it’ll mean keeping my luck for the rest of my life, but it’s more than I’ve ever had before. And as long as we’re together, nullifying each other’s magic, maybe I can save him from an early end. He’ll even be able to sleep at night, safe on the other side of that wall.
He’ll be mine, as much as he can be.
Gratitude soaks into me, so complete it eclipses any shred of doubt. I fall into bed with a smile on my face.
