Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
But even from a distance, he noted something about her, an ease to her movements, a quiet confidence. Still, appearance didn’t matter. All women favored him, whether they wanted to or not. It was no longer about attraction. It was the blasted cursed wish.
He approached, squaring his shoulders as he strode toward them.
Freyda looked up first. “Ah, Chieftain Declan, just in time. Aura and I were—”
She didn’t get the rest out.
Aura had gotten to her feet and, brushing her hands on her skirts, she took a step toward Declan.
He instinctively threw his hand out to ward her off. “Wait!”
Freyda echoed him. “Aura, stop—”
But she had already closed the distance.
Nothing happened.
Aura blinked, confused. “What is it?”
Declan stared, dumbstruck. She stood only a pace away, perfectly upright, completely unaffected. No stumble. No sudden collapse at his feet. Just standing there… like a normal woman.
He blinked again, as if his eyes deceived him. “I… I don’t understand.”
Freyda looked just as bewildered. “That’s… not what I expected.”
Aura glanced between them. “Did I miss something?”
Declan’s gaze locked with hers. And for the first time, in far too long, he felt something change. It wasn’t the weight of a curse, but the spark of something else entirely… curiosity. And the faintest, most dangerous hint of hope.
Aura arched a brow at both. “You act as if I just committed some offense by stepping toward him.”
Declan shook his head, still reeling. “Forgive me. I wasn’t expecting…” He paused, then said bluntly, “You didn’t fall.”
“Fall?” she asked, puzzled.
Freyda glanced at Declan. “Perhaps you two should speak alone.”
He gave a curt nod. “Aye. If you’ll permit it, Aura.”
Aura studied him a moment, unsure of the handsome man in front of her, then curiosity had her giving a small nod. “This way.”
She led him along the narrow, worn path, past the back of the cottage and into the quiet stretch of woods beyond. A few birds chirped overhead, and the scent of wild mint and damp earth scented the air.
But he heard none of that, his eyes focused on Aura as he kept pace by her side. Her footfalls were confident, determined, yet graceful. She looked more like she glided than walked all while she kept her focus on her surroundings, not out of caution but as if she saw a wonder in everything.
When they reached a small clearing, she turned to him. “This is a nice quiet spot. No one will hear us here, which I assume is what you want… no ears to hear what you ask?”
“Aye,” Declan said, wasting no time. “I’m cursed and I need help getting rid of it.”
She tilted her head, his fine features could certainly grab a woman’s attention, but it was his words that intrigued her the most. “That’s a bold way to start.”
He gave a single, grim nod. “Bold but true, I fear.”
She waited, expecting more. When he offered nothing, she prompted, “And by cursed, you mean…?”
“Any woman who comes too close to me, drops to the ground like her legs no longer work.” His mouth twitched with something that wasn’t quite humor. “Some have fainted. Others have simply crumpled. I’ve had to keep my distance from everyone. Even my own kin grew weary of the spectacle.”
Aura’s brow knitted as she studied him. “And this just… started? Without warning?”
His jaw grew tight, thinking about how long his suffering had been. “It began over a year ago now.”
“And you’ve no idea how or why?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as though trying to make sense of it.
Declan hesitated.
Aura didn’t miss it. “I see you are not being honest with me. What have you failed to tell me?”
He let out a slow breath, then ran a hand through his dark hair. He hadn’t breathed a word of the truth to anyone, and he was finding it difficult to do so now. But it would do him no good to lie to her if he wanted her help.
“It wasn’t a curse at first—” He hesitated again. “It was a wish.”
She lifted her brow, completely confused. “A wish?”
He nodded. “I said I never wanted to search for a woman again. I wanted women to fall at my feet.” He gave a dry laugh. “A jest. A foolish moment shared around a campfire. But someone must have heard it… someone capable of granting such a thing.”
Aura narrowed her eyes. “You have lived with the results for over a year, yet only now you seek help?”
“I’ve tried. I’ve spoken to endless healers and some who knew a touch of magic, but nothing worked. And then… you didn’t fall.” He looked at her with something akin to wonder. “You stood, as if whatever binds me has no hold on you.”
Aura was silent for a moment, thoughtful.
“You’ve told me more,” she said, “but still not everything. And if you want my help, truly want it, then you’ll need to give me all of it. No omissions. No pride.”