Page 65 of Black Hearted
I had underestimated these cursed lands. The warning that the curse would come for us wasn’t just a vague threat—it was a brutal reality. Burning rain and killer vines might only be the beginning.
An image of Nellie flashed in my mind. Her freckled face, herwide eyes filled with hope. I had promised her I’d return, that I’d come back to her. But if I wasn’t vigilant, if I failed to protect Lorelei again, I might not survive to keep that promise.
I clenched my jaw, the weight of my vow settling like steel in my chest. I wouldn’t let my guard down again. I wouldn’t let Lorelei out of my sight—or my arms—until this curse was destroyed.
When I reached the pond, I carefully set Lorelei down on the shoreline. Mentally, I thanked the Spring queen for the extra provisions she’d sent with us. Pulling a length of rope from my satchel, I tied one end securely around Lorelei’s waist and the other around mine, leaving only about four feet of slack between us.
If something tried to drag her away again, it would have to take me with her.
Using a clean strip of linen I’d gotten from the Spring queen, I dipped it into the pond and began to carefully wash Lorelei’s exposed skin. I started with her hands and arms, moving gently to her ankles and shins. Finally, I ended with her perfect face, wiping away the dirt and blood that marred her features.
Seeing her injured like this tore me apart. Small purple bruises were starting to form, and the weight of guilt pressed on my chest so heavily it was hard to breathe.
Lorelei whimpered softly, and my gaze snapped to her face.
“Lorelei?”
Her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped. In the next instant, the grass beneath us began to turn white as if frost had kissed it. Before my eyes, her cuts and bruises vanished, leaving her skin smooth and unblemished.
Thank the fates.
She sat up suddenly, her expression filled with wonder and a touch of fear. When her wide eyes met mine, her voice trembled as she said, “I couldn’t control it. The vine that grabbed me—it had no energy. I couldn’t fight it.”
The anguish in her voice pierced me, and I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms and protect her from whatever came next. But I didn’t want to overwhelm her further, so I stayed still, keeping my voice calm and steady. “It’s all right. I won’t let that happen again,” I promised.
Her gaze dropped to the bloody linen strip in my hands, then moved to the rope tied around her waist and looped around mine. Her expression softened, and a small, hesitant smile tugged at her lips. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”
I gave a dry chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “You just healed in seconds after being dragged through half the forest. What’s to be scared about?” I teased.
Her smile widened slightly, and she fingered the rope around her waist. “Is this supposed to protect me if the vine comes back?”
I nodded. “Exactly. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
Pink bloomed across her cheeks, and her blush made her even more beautiful. “A handsome lord wants to tie himself to me?” she said with a teasing lilt. “You won’t hear me complaining about that.”
She thought I was handsome? Her words sent my heart into a chaotic rhythm, thudding wildly in my chest. For a moment, I forgot about the dangers of the Savage Lands, the looming curse, and everything else. All I could focus on was her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dawn
“It hurtssss,” I hissed as Eowyn placed a cool rag against my forehead.
“It’s supposed to,” she said matter-of-factly. “You’re birthing a child.”
My entire lower midsection felt like it was being crushed as each contraction rocked my body.
“Can you help with the pain?” Zander asked, his voice tight as he stared at me, looking like he was in as much agony as I was.
“I can,” Eowyn replied, “but it won’t do her any favors. She won’t be able to push properly.”
I grunted as another wave of pain tore through me. The contractions were five minutes apart now, and I’d been laboring for over ten hours. Giving birth was taking much longer than I’d anticipated.
A knock at the door interrupted the brief reprieve I felt between contractions. Zander opened the door, and Isolde rushed in, her hair windswept and her traveling cloak still on.
“Dawn!” She ran to my side, her face full of concern. Seeing one ofmy dearest friends was a relief. Adrien lingered by the door, speaking to Zander in hushed tones.
Isolde kneeled beside me, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly. “You’re in labor? But it’s too soon,” she said, her eyes brimming with worry.
