Page 22 of Kiss and Spell
“Have you ever wanted to just skip right to your happy ending?” he whispered.
“I wish,” she said earnestly. Her voice broke on the second word.
That was the freaking problem. She did wish with every ounce of magic in her bones. Lincoln ditched her. She messed up her closest friendships. Ursula lost everything—her career, her life, and her relationships with one single spell. The truth was right there. You don’t deserve a happy ending. Her wish wasn’t good enough to be granted. She looked down at her open-toed sandals, trying to remember the name of her nail polish so that the tears wouldn’t fall from her eyes. Maybe it was the equinox, maybe it was the ghoul’s words, but it was too much right now. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Do not cry. No, not again. This had to be a record. The last time she cried twice in one day, she’d missed out on Comic-Con and Beyoncé tickets in one afternoon. Ursula looked up at him through her tears. His face softened. He took his handkerchief from his chest pocket, then handed it to her.
His voice was soothing, kind. “I didn’t mean to… upset you again.”
She took it and brushed away her tears. “It’s not you. I’ve had terrible luck with wishes.”
Would she ever forgive herself for casting her charmed life away? Ursula clutched the handkerchief tightly against her palm.
“What did you wish for?” he asked.
Ursula gave him a side-eye. Reluctance held her tongue. It was bad enough that she didn’t get what she wanted. She wasn’t going to tell him or anyone. Caraways didn’t share wishes. The only person who ever asked her was Lucy, and even then, Ursula hadn’t had the nerve to tell her cousin. Now this gentlemanly fae wanted to know her secret. Even crazier, a tiny part of her wanted to tell him everything. To unburden her heart. To let him in. She opened, then closed her mouth.
The wish hadn’t come true, but it was still hers to keep safe.
Ursula thrust the handkerchief back at him. “You don’t randomly ask people what they wish for.”
He took it back. “Why not?”
She fumbled for an answer. “It’s like you asking me what color underwear I’m wearing.”
He scanned her over thoughtfully, as if he was trying to imagine her in just her panties. Her skin tingled as he met her eyes.
“I bet it matches your dress.” He tucked his cloth in his pocket, flexing a little bit, showing off his strength. “I’ve always liked teal.”
“It’s aquamarine,” Ursula corrected.
Xavier straightened and adjusted his glasses again. “Hmm. Even better.”
Hmm. That syllable sent her dormant imagination spinning. She envisioned his steady hand reaching over, slowly pulling her dress up her thighs to see her panties. His eyes would flash as he studied what lay underneath that aquamarine lace. A shiver of lust went through her as that image stayed in her mind. She pressed a hand to her stomach. Was there something in the air? Maybe they were pumping pheromones into the ventilation system.
She’d only known this fae prince for twenty-four hours, and she was already fantasizing about him. It’d been too long since anyone had looked at her as he did. Even Lincoln in the last six months of their relationship hadn’t glanced at her like that. She wasn’t searching for anything serious yet, but she was seriously liking Xavier. You promised yourself no more fairy tales.
The last thing she needed was to like a whole fae prince.
Ursula let out a sharp breath. “You wouldn’t like it if I asked you about your wishes.”
A defiant look crossed his face. “I’ll gladly tell you, Madame.”
Xavier lifted his hand and held up three fingers. He casually counted out his wishes. “One, I want to break this curse. Two, I want to go home to the Faerie Realm. Three, I’d like to know you better.”
Ursula opened and closed her mouth, taken aback by his bluntness. That was a lot of information to take in all at once. She decided to start with the first wish.
“You’re cursed.” The words felt odd on her lips. She’d only read about cursed princes and princesses transformed into reptiles and birds as a child.
He spread his hands in a gesture of apology. “Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.”
Xavier let out a heavy sigh. He motioned to the pillows tucked behind Ursula. He reached over and fluffed them quickly for her. “If I’m going to burden you with my problems, I’d like you to be comfortable.”
His hands briefly brushed her back, causing a little thrill to go through her body.
Ursula watched him lean against the nook wall. “How long have you been… cursed?”
His face paled. “It’s been about a month. Whitney says it’s more of an enchantment, but I’ve come to the Grove to try and break it.”
Ursula tucked her legs under her butt. “A curse is meant to harm a person or being, but an enchantment is usually used to delight the person.”