Page 58 of Secrets of Avalon
I nod in agreement, my own stomach rumbling in anticipation.
"I figure we've got a long day ahead of us, dodging council members," Kellan remarks, his tone turning serious. "Do you have a plan for how you're going to handle tonight if your father does publicly announce your engagement to Vencia Darkwood?"
"I plan to announce my engagement to Melinda before he can declare otherwise," I say calmly, tearing off a corner of the soft, fragrant bread. "As long as Melinda is agreeable?"
CHAPTER 23
Everyone Likes Snacks
Melinda Mayweather
Don't choke. Don't choke. I slowly force myself to swallow the last bit of honey cake in my mouth.
I stare up at Hawke, unable to form a coherent response. The casual way he mentioned our engagement announcement, as if it were a foregone conclusion, sends a jolt of panic through my body. My heart pounds against my ribcage, threatening to burst free. Is he serious?
"Hawke," I begin, my voice trembling uncontrollably. "I–" The words stick in my throat, my mind reeling with a thousand thoughts and emotions.
He takes my hand in his, his touch gentle yet firm, and squeezes it reassuringly. His eyes lock onto mine. The world around us dissolves away. I'm drowning in a sea of uncertainty, my heart racing with a combination of fear and exhilaration. But his eyes, steady and strong, anchor me to the present.
"I know this is sudden," he says, his voice low and earnest. "But you are my soul mate. I know it. And there will never be another. I would rather have you than Avalon or my father's crown or anything else. Just you."
His words wash over me like a tidal wave, simultaneously overwhelming and comforting. The weight of his love and devotion presses against my chest, making it difficult to breathe. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes.
My mind races. Doubts and fears war with the growing desire to surrender myself completely to this man who has so boldly claimed me as his own. I breathe hard, my mouth is dry, and my palms are slick with sweat.
“But I’m cursed. That hasn’t changed.” I whisper, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart. The words taste bitter on my tongue, a harsh reminder of the inescapable reality that haunts me. My magick is deadly. And if we were ever to have a child… I’d lose him. Even the thought of it makes my heart shudder.
Hawke's grip on my hand tightens, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination that takes my breath away. "I don't care about the curse," he says, his voice unwavering. "I care about you, Melinda. I care about the woman who has captured my heart, body, and soul. The woman who has shown me light still exists beyond the darkness that haunts me."
He leans further over the table. "I will fight for you, Melinda. I will fight against the curse, against the darkness, against anything that dares to stand in the way of our happiness. You just have to be willing to fight with me."
I close my eyes, allowing myself to be enveloped by the strength of Hawke's presence, the unwavering conviction in his voice. "I want to," I whisper, my voice trembling with a mixture of longing and trepidation. "I want to believe that we can conquer this curse, and the darkness, that we can build a life together despite the odds. But I'm terrified, Hawke. Terrified of the power within me, of its potential to hurt people. My magick has always cost me everything and everyone."
A single tear escapes, trailing down my cheek. I voice my deepest fear. "What if we have a child, and the curse takes you from me the way it took my birth father from my mother? It broke her. She was never the same, even after she found my stepfather.”
Hawke reaches out, his thumb gently wiping away the tear from my face. "We will find a way, Melinda. Just say yes. Tell me you’re with me.”
“I am,” I whisper. Decision made.
He smiles. The kind of smile that chases away all the shadows. The kind that makes me want to forget I’m cursed. The kind that makes me want to believe in happily-ever-afters.
The moment breaks with a servant girl, carrying a tray of dishes, stumbling over the first broken pot. She drops her armload. The clatter of plates and utensils fills the air for a second time, along with some shouting.
"Tali! Be more careful. I don't have time to clean up after you and feed an entire castle!" the cook shouts, her voice stern but not unkind.
Hawke and Kellan stand, moving in front of the table.
“I’m sorry! I tripped.” She squats to the ground and starts retrieving the dishes she dropped. “Did you know the guards are all talking about chasing off a giant wolf-like creature?”
The cook looks up from her work, her brow furrowed with concern. "A wolf-like creature? How big was it?"
"Oh, they said it was enormous! Bigger than a man," the servant girl replies, her hands gesturing wildly as she describes the beast.
Intrigued, I peer between Hawke and Kellan, trying to catch more of the conversation. "What are they talking about? Is there something dangerous outside the castle? Is it your friend, the knight–Fenrir?" I ask Hawke, remembering that he had mentioned the ability to turn into a wolf.
Hawke shakes his head. "No, this beast is from the woods. It's the offspring of Fae creatures. We're not sure what it is exactly, but it's been hunting along the road between Camelot and Vandimoor. It's never come this close to the gates of Camelot before. I should check with the guards."
Kellan snorts, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The Upir will have it well in hand. Let it be, Princeling. Domina needs to eat and rest."