Page 70 of Once Upon a Midnight Dreary
She listened.Sometimes with her breath held, sometimes with her pulse skittering in horror as he told her of Lenore’s first husband, of Lily, of the drowning and death, of the loneliness that came after.Of how her father had found him.
And finally of the night Lenore tried to bring Lily back.
Victoria’s stomach turned at the image.The altar, the child, the blood.The desperate, terrible spell.The knife.The curse flung in rage and grief.
When his voice finally broke, she squeezed his hand.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
He didn’t answer.
They sat in silence, the air heavy with all he’d said and all he hadn’t.Now she saw the cruel truth—Lenore had cursed him to these walls, binding him in a prison of sorrow so her vengeance could stretch into eternity.And in that moment, Victoria felt the weight of his torment settle over her soul.She would not let him bear it alone.
She shifted closer.“We’ll find a way.”
Before he could answer, the candle guttered low.A draft whispered through the room.The shadows in the far corner thickened, almost like a figure standing there.There was a muffled rustle of skirts.
A faint, distant laugh—cold as the grave—slid along her spine.
Lenore knew.
“I should go.”She rose, but he gripped her hand, keeping her in place.
He looked up at her.The loneliness coming off him was palpable.In some way, she did not want to be alone, either.
“You don’t have to.”
She shifted.Uneasy.Unsure.“I don’t know—”
A lump formed in her throat.A part of her understood he was still trying to protect her.He didn’t want her to be alone in her room.
“We can sit here.Together.If you like.I’ll bring up a tray if you’re hungry.”His voice was hollow.Not quite pleading.Not desperate.Wanting.Hoping.
For a moment, she thought what it would be like.To remain here with him, next to him, in his arms.As the shadows lengthened in the room and the house creaked and Lenore lurked.Perhaps it was best if she remained here with him.
Relenting, she lowered herself back to the loveseat.“All right.”
Something in his shoulders eased, though his expression remained shadowed.He leaned back beside her, close enough that she could feel his warmth through the thin space between them.
The candle burned low, its light trembling over the walls.The house creaked in slow, deliberate sighs.Somewhere beyond the reach of the flame, Lenore lingered, patient as ever.
Victoria’s gaze held to the wavering glow of the candle.Gabriel was right—something in her heart had changed.Not into the revulsion he seemed to dread, but into a fragile, frightening tenderness.A love she had never expected, not when she first stepped into Ravenfell with dread pressing down her spine.
And as the shadows pressed in, she knew the truth.She could never leave him to face this darkness alone.Whatever it took, whatever the path, she would break his curse.
Chapter 28
Itwascoldinthe room when Victoria awoke despite Gabriel’s arms wrapped tight around her.He held her that way most of the night.When exhaustion overtook her, she dropped her head on his shoulder, his arm slipping around her.There was a comfort in the way he held her, the way he rested his cheek on the top of her head.
They must have remained that way all night.At some point, she curled her legs to the side of her, snuggling as close as possible.She didn’t recall when a blanket had been draped over them.Even so, she still felt the chill of the room.
As her eyes blinked open, she focused on the room.The soft light emanating from the window behind them, trying to press through the curtains.The candle, still on the low table, had burned down and snuffed itself out.The hearth was still devoid of a fire.
The silver tray he’d brought up was still there on the table, too.The tea cold in the teapot.The crumbs littering the plate of cheese, bread, and fruit they’d shared.They had talked long into the night.About nothing.About everything.
And now, in the bitter light of morning, she sat up.Her neck and legs were stiff.Her ankle still throbbed.
He came awake, his eyes blinking open.Confused at first and then when he saw her still there, the light returned.For a moment, there was joy.He was glad to see her.
