Page 31 of Kiss and Spell
Xavier knew he wasn’t perfect or charming as the fairy tales have promised.
“Let me guess. Did you tell the Queen her shoes were gaudy? Insult her throne? Tell her the tea was terrible?” Ursula asked, amusing herself.
He hated to be the one to end the fun she was having. The truth felt rough on his tongue, like sandpaper.
“I said something thoughtless.” Xavier licked his lips but was unable to bring himself to speak again. As if sensing his mood shift, Ursula lowered her voice so only he could hear.
“We all have flaws,” she said. Her fingers nervously toyed with the prism of rose quartz that hung from her necklace chain. He met her eyes as she spoke carefully. “If my life were being written by Shakespeare, believing in love would be my tragic flaw. I adored being in my last relationship so much. I wanted to be his perfect everything—girlfriend, partner, and even his perfect kiss. I acted horribly and hurt people trying to be what I thought he wanted. I understand being thoughtless, trying to be perfect and failing.”
Ursula met his gaze and didn’t back down. He’d seen that fierce look before when Mother awarded the knights of the Realm. Ursula was a fighter just like the knights who served the Alder House, the ones who secured their lands and watched over the people. They protected the lands with the same fierceness and strength that she had fought for love. She fought, failed but she still believed in love.
“Tell me what you said when you’re ready.” Ursula dropped the prism and placed her hands over his. Indeed, her skin was as smooth as it looked, as if she bathed with rose petals and milk bath lotion. Her touch was a balm his soul craved. He let out a relaxed sigh and stared down at their connected hands. A thread of fuzziness twirled inside Xavier. He never understood why holding hands was such a big deal when he was younger. It was so innocent. Now, having her hands on him felt so personal, as if she reached inside and tapped on his heart. His mind drifted, allowing him to wish for a precious second. He wished to feel her hands on his face, his chest, and his body. To feel her touch on the parts of him that yearned to be free from solitude.
Chapter Ten
Xavier didn’t know how long they sat there holding hands at the wooden table, but he knew he didn’t want to let her go just yet. He studied her hands, remembering reading a special book in the Royal Library that described how one could predict a person’s traits just by studying their fingers, nails, and palms. Xavier smiled to himself. He liked the history he saw on her skin.
“What?” Ursula asked. “Did I mess up my manicure?”
“You have Earth hands,” Xavier said merrily. He looked to Ursula, knowing that he was talking to a professional fortune teller, trained in various mystic arts. A small part of him wanted to impress her with what little knowledge he had. “I’m sure you know this fact.”
Ursula grinned. “I do, but I like hearing it from you. Tell me what you see.”
Xavier flipped his hands over so that they were palm to palm.
He cleared his throat, then spoke in a low tone. “Square palms. Short fingers. Strong headed and hearted. You can be grounded, but sometimes you find yourself looking to the stars.”
Ursula said nothing but pressed her hands into his. They fit so right inside of his that it was nearly perfect. Her skin was soft and warm. Xavier wanted nothing more than to bow his head forward and kiss those hands.
“Excuse me?” a soft voice interrupted.
The spell was broken. They weren’t alone anymore. Xavier reluctantly moved away from Ursula, shutting down his imagination before turning to the questioning voice. A statuesque woman in a pink puffer jacket and leggings stood nearby, clutching a laminated menu. She motioned to their empty chairs.
“Hiya! Would you mind if my boyfriend and I shared your table?”
“Please, be our guest. There’s enough room.” Xavier looked to Ursula for her agreement. It was her table too.
“Um, sure,” she said. “Please join us.”
“Hey, babe,” the pink-shrouded woman called out, and a man wearing a polo shirt and khakis who had been hovering near the bar’s patio entrance came over. “I found us a spot.”
Xavier turned to Ursula. There was a stricken expression in her eyes as the man approached. The glow in her face dulled.
“I’m Zoe! This is Lincoln.”
Xavier waved. “I’m Xavier. This is Ursula.”
The couple sat down next to them. Xavier noted Ursula’s set face and tight lips. He glanced at Lincoln, whose dark eyes appeared to hold a secret. Zoe placed the menu between them.
“Hello, Sula. You look good.” The surprise in Lincoln’s words sent a twinge of discomfort through Xavier’s chest. He spoke as if he expected her to look different and was shocked to find her looking as she did. As if he expected to see her broken. Xavier slid closer to Ursula.
She didn’t speak for a long, tense moment, then said, “Hi, Linc. You’re doing well.”
Zoe glanced from Lincoln to Ursula. “You know each other?”
Their eyes locked over the table. “We’re friends,” Lincoln said.
“We’re old acquaintances,” Ursula said in a tone that meant the opposite. Xavier knew that tone. It conveyed they had a hidden history, the same way that vampires didn’t get along with werewolves. “It’s been a while since we’ve last seen each other. Right, Linc?”