Page 23 of Magic Cursed

I stare at her for a moment longer before nodding. “I may. I haven’t tried to walk yet.”

“Right then.” She throws back the covers and gently, but surely, pulls my legs over the edge of the bed. “There now, wrap your arm over my shoulder. I might look old, but I assure you, I’m strong enough for you to lean your weight on.”

I do as instructed. As soon as I’m near her, the familiar smell of mint from the candies mixed with lemon from the cleaner she uses reaches me. The scent is a gateway to emotions long buried. They hit all at once, it’s unexpected, and I have no defense for the feelings that flood in. Love, comfort, safety, security: my childhood. It was all yanked away in a single night. As the old wound opens in my heart, fresh as the day it was inflicted, I fight back a sob.

“Oh, my dear, did I hurt you?” Mrs. Dower asks, setting me back down on the side of the bed.

I shake my head, unable to speak. I stay as still as I can so that I don’t throw my arms around her neck in an attempt to fall back into the childhood I lost too soon.

“Are you quite all right, Miss?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just. . .” I don’t know how to explain to her the difficulties of facing all my memories in this castle without revealing who I really am, so I just shake my head again.

She gives me a little smile. “I imagine you’re anxious to go home.”

Home? Hydenglen wasn’t ever really my home. It wasahome, a place to live and stay, but the last place I’d feltathome was here at Stonemount with my father and Daimis, and even Mrs. Dower. And now I’m a stranger here, which is more painful than it should be.

“I have no home,” I say flatly.

Mrs. Dower’s soft brown eyes are wise and perhaps see more than I’m saying. She gives me a gentle pat. “Come, let’s get you all cleaned up. You’ll feel much better after.”

I spend the next hour being pampered the way I had as a child. It’s interesting how something as simple as having Mrs. Dower wash and brush my hair can be so soothing. She helps me into a blue dress she claims is perfect for my eyes. It’s made of fine raw silk, has a heart-shaped neckline, puffed sleeves, and delicate embroidery of vines in the same shade of blue detailing the bodice and hem. It’s beautiful and I haven’t worn anything this fancy since I was ten. If Elsie and Tuuk could see me now, they’d tease me for days. I smile a little at the thought. After Mrs. Dower braids my hair to one side with a blue ribbon tied to the ends, she leaves, promising to bring me dinner shortly.

I’m sitting in the plush chair Daimis was in earlier, hating how weak my body still is. The simple act of bathing and changing exhausted me and my wounds still hold a constant dull aching. I insisted Mrs. Dower open the window so I can enjoy some fresh air. She was reluctant with the dropping temperatures, but I assured her that with the fire crackling in the fireplace, I would be just fine. She only agreed after she made me hot tea and draped a shawl over my shoulders.

I sip the tea now, watching the city sprawled out far below. Twilight’s dark blue chases the fading sun, casting shadows and silhouettes. Candles are lit to battle the oncoming darkness. The castle is built into a rocky mountain with a waterfall on one side, and the city itself is built on steep winding, gray cobblestone streets that look almost like a network of waterways connecting everything together.

The large estates closest to the castle are still within the stone walls. The estates are spaced out, with flower gardens, and the architecture reflects that of the castle; white stone structures with large windows, making them look like they’re an extension of the castle itself. But the farther away from the castle the buildings are set, the poorer the conditions. Outside the towering stone wall, the buildings are made with timber frames, and wattle, and daub. And the farther out, the more cluttered, the buildings built so fast that not much care was taken into the design or flow. Some are tilted, and others have simple thatch roofs. They were meant to be temporary. Only long enough for the Regent to make good on his promises to rid the land of shadow demons and magic users.

We’re proving a bigger problem than he anticipated.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. “Enter,” I say.

Kellan comes in. “Good evening,” he says with a big smile on his face, a tray of delicious-smelling food, and two goblets of wine.

My mouth waters instantly. “Food,” I say and sigh. “You really are a hero.”

He winks. “I do my best.” He sets the tray down on the small dining table across the room.

I start to stand.

“Whoa, let me help you,” Kellan says, rushing over.

I’m going to protest but remember that my injuries should still be bad enough that I would need help walking. At least they would be if I was a normal magic user healing myself. I place my teacup on the small side table and remove my shawl. Kellan stops and stares.

“What it is?” I ask.

He leans down, his golden eyes playful. “Just not used to seeing you looking like a lady in a pretty dress.”

“I’m not––”

“A lady?” he says, interrupting me. “Believe me, I know.” In one swift motion, he slides one hand under my knees, the other cradles my back and he lifts me into his capable arms.

My breath hitches. I have one hand on his chest, the other around his neck.

A smile plays on his lips. “I just mean that you clean up nice for a little devil-angel.”

I match his smile. “I still prefer my fighting leathers. These skirts can be a death trap, in the wrong situation.”

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