Page 71 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“No.”Nievetied off the first stitch. “Willyou ever tell me your name?”
“Will you tell me your curse?”
Nieve smiled a bright, charming smile. “Ifyou are worthy.Nowstop talking.”
Aurora watchedNieve.Shenoticed the freckles that dusted the bridge of his nose, the smoothness of his skin. “Deathis an old god.Howare you and the queen not old?”
“We are.It’spart of the curse.Trustme, in the morning,Ican feel every one of the yearsI’vebeen forced to live.Doyou want me to finish this?”
“Yes.”Auroraclosed her eyes against the feeling of each stitch being sewn.Theroom was quiet asNieveworked.Shetried to think of anything other than the needle and thread pulling through her skin.Shethought of the dress she was having made and how it should be done by now.Shewould have to check on that when she got back.
“There, you’re done.It’snot my best work, but it’s closed.”Nievestood and then put all the supplies back.
Aurora lightly touched her lip. “Thankyou.Sonow what happens?Youwill not tell me the curse, andIcan’t leave untilIhave reaped the queen’s soul.”
“SoDeathsent you?”Nieveasked over his shoulder.
“Yes.”
“Why you?”Nievemoved around the room.
“I made a deal with him.Andto get whatIwant,Imust reap six souls.”Auroralooked to the ceiling.Thethree stars marked where she had written her love forThane.Itwould be there forever.Evenafter they were no longer remembered, anyone who looked at the sky would see her love for him.
“If you reap the queen’s soul, what do you get?”
“The name of a mortal whose heart must break.”Aurorayawned.
“Why would you do that?Thereare consequences for breaking a heart.”Nievecame back.
Aurora looked down at the tiny cuts that peppered her hand.Wouldthey leave their mark on her skin, a constant reminder of all she had done for love? “Love.”Shelooked atNieve. “Loveis whyImust break the heart of another.Silly, isn’t it?Toget whatIwant,Imust take it from another.”
“Love cannot be taken.”Nievetook her hand, bringing it to his mouth. “Itmust be given.”
Aurora watched as his lips hovered over her hand.Thiswas how fairy tales began.Aseemingly innocent kiss that would turn into a curse, thus turning the maiden’s life upside down as she tried to break it.Godsbelow, she was already living a fairy tale. “Yes,Iknow.”Shepulled her hand away.
The fire lost its battle with the coldness.Ithissed one last time before it died.Thefrost crept in under the door.Aurorawatched it, too tired to move.Exhaustionpulled at every muscle in her body. “Isthis whereIfreeze to death?”
“No.Wemust stay off the floor or the frost will consume you.Nowcome to bed.”Nievestood and walked over to the bed, then pulled back the bedding and patted the hard mattress. “You’llbe safe here.”
“I thought you saidIcouldn’t sleep.”Shewalked over to the bed, her body begging her to rest even for a moment.Shecrawled in.Thewool blankets were worn thin with age.Somehad been eaten by moths.Theywould do little to keep the cold at bay.
“You must sleep for the new day to start.Thatis the contradiction of this place.”
Nieve lay down next to her, taking her cold hands into his.Shepulled back a bit. “Whateveryou think is going to happen is not.”
Nieve smiled, blowing warmth into their hands. “Areyou sure?Ican make this all go away.”
Aurora fought the urge to give in.IfDeathcould not set foot in this realm, he couldn’t pull the secrets from her bones.ButThanewould never awaken, andAurorawould be stuck withNieve, whose honey-coated lies would fill her head with empty promises.Promisesthat would only last as long as she believed in them.Inhim.Andsince she couldn’t lie, they’d last a day if she was lucky.
“Yes,Iam sure.”Aurorashivered. “Ilove another more than this life or my next.”Herbreath came out in white huffs.
Nieve pulled her closer.Hiswarmth made her eyes heavy. “Tellme who he is?”
Aurora snuggled closer, wishing she could press her hands on his warm flesh.Sheclosed her eyes, conjuring up the thought ofThane. “HeisDarkness.”
“And that makes youDawn.Twostar-crossed lovers destined to break each other until the end of time.”
Aurora opened her eyes. “Notthe end of time.Howdid you know?”
