Page 34 of Once Upon a Woven Wish
But the thing that surprised her the most was his ears formed a delicate point.
“You are…Fae.”When she said it, the words bloomed in a fog in front of her.
“And you are mortal,” he replied.“Please, Serena, do not ask me to grant another wish.”
The weaver does not decide,the strange voice said.
She shivered.“Who is that?”she asked, quietly.
“The Well,” he replied, as quiet.
Make your wish, Serena Windriver, and pay the price.For all bargains come with a price.
“It knows why I’ve come, doesn’t it?”she asked.
He nodded.
“I-I…” And then she pressed her lips together, unsure.Her heart pounded against her ribs.“You know the price is too high, don’t you?”
“The price is always too high,” he replied.“But if you must…make your wish and I will grant it for I have no other choice.”
He sounded sad when he said it, making her chest ache.
“You care for me.You don’t want me to make it.”
The stranger turned away to face the Well.He leaned his gloved hands on the edge of the stone and peered down.“I must do my duty.”
Duty first.
She swallowed hard.“The king asks me to heal his son.I don’t know what ails him.I’m to go with him at first light to the palace.”
“The palace?”he echoed.He looked at her over his shoulder, surprise and concern on his face.
“Yes.The Grand Duke…he knows I am a fraud.Please, you must help me.I fear what they’ll do to me and my family if I fail.”The words spilled out in a heated rush.
A long quiet moment passed as he peered at her.In his eyes she saw pain, and she saw acquiescence.He pulled off his gloves and placed them aside on the edge of the Well.The runes carved into his skin glowed gold.He held them out to her.
“Give me your hands.”
Serena dropped the lantern at her feet and reached for him, putting her hands in his.They were warm and soft.The moment their skin touched, it sent a thrill through her and a curious sweeping through her belly.Her breathing was ragged.Her heart was pounding.
The stranger pulled her close, so close barely an inch separated them.
“Make your wish, Serena Windriver.Say the words and it will be granted.”
Her throat burned.One wish and she’d save the crown prince.Without it, she’d fail and doom her family.She took a deep breath, expelled it.
“I wish for the power to heal the king’s son.”
“So, it shall be.”
He chanted low under his breath.As he did, gold tendrils of light lifted from the well spiraling upward and then settling between them.The runes on his skin pulsed.His hands turned hot, searing.She cried out and tried to pull out of his grasp.But he held fast, tightening his grip on her as his voice rose higher and higher with the chant.
The swirling magic settled on their entwined hands.And then, a blinding flash.Heat pounded through her fingers, up her arms.She whimpered, tears blurring her eyes.When he released her, she stumbled backward.
To her horror, her hands glowed bright gold.She gaped at them.
“What—”
