Page 52 of The Dark Prince
“The prince-who-isn’t sought me out one time, brute that he is,” the witch began, settling in with relish for her story. “He didn’t want to ruin the princess’s precious life and asked where he might find a bride that would be a bit more … expendable. I may have pointed him south.”
What? Aella had alluded to something similar, but I had attributed that to her spite. But the witch was confirming it. Did she mean she pointed Tyr in my direction? Mine specifically. or Roselle’s?
She pouted those overly red lips at me. “Don’t take it so personally, girl. The cursed lord isn’t doing this to break the curse for himself. If he doesn’t pass it on or break it, everyone bound to him will share in his misery and succumb to it. All his sworn vassals and everyone close to him, and eventually consuming everyone.”
I hardened my heart, because the witch was right. This wasn’t about me. It wasn’t even about Tyr if it threatened everyone under his protection.
“Tell me how to break the curse.”
The witch chuckled, a rasping noise that sounded more at home with her hag appearance than the attractive woman before me. She wagged a finger at me. “Ah ah. You must do it naturally; not forced. Intention is everything.”
I scoffed. “What? Do I have to fall in love with him or something?”
Because I was already halfway there.
She snorted. “Pathetic fairy tales. People don’t do nearly the same feats for love as they do for hate and fear. Here. I offer a gift.”
I jerked in surprise when the witch conjured a gleaming dagger from midair, and held it out to me in her palm. The blade was white as bone and sharpened to a deadly point. The likeness of a beast blinked at me from the hilt, similar to the practice monstrosity Tyr had shown me. Was it my destiny to slay this beast, then?
The weapon felt wrong to me.
“I … I don’t know. Tyr said he would make me a knife. I don’t need this one, as much as I appreciate it.” More like I didn’t trust anything she gave me.
The witch scowled, snapping her fingers. A leather sheath appeared, and the knife nestled itself inside, and then both flew at me. I gasped as it flew under my dress and wrapped itself snugly along my thigh.
“Your precious lord has less time than he thinks. The curse passes from father to son if no one breaks it.Thatis why he married you, you stupid girl.”
Wait. What? The witch had said they could pass the curse from father to son.… Did that mean that Tyr wanted to have a child with me only to curse it? My chest ached with a sharp, sudden pain. I swallowed heavily. “Why are you helping me if you’re the one to lay the curse?”
She had to be the one. How many witches were just hiding out in these woods, next to a cursed village and cursed lord?
The witch laughed darkly. “The little runt thinks I’m helping. Maybe she is as dumb as she looks.”
That sent hot rage burning through my veins. I stood, my chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor. “You laid the curse, right?”
She leaned back in her chair, considering me. Her long nails rapped against her armrest. “Maybe not so dumb.”
“Does it end if you die?” I asked dead-panned, not moving a muscle.
The witch sneered and leaped at me. “You little—”
I grabbed the knife from its sheath on my thigh and rammed it into her chest the way Tyr had taught me. The witch screamed and fell back, writhing in pain. Blood covered my hands and my chest. I jerked the knife back, spun, and ran toward the door.
Only there was no door.
I turned back to the witch, but she was gone. I blinked, and the entire house was gone. Thorns and bristles surrounded me. My heart sank, and panic raced through my veins.
Not again.
I took a step forward, my eyes trained on the impossibly thick nest of bushes and shrubs ahead of me. I tripped on a stump and went flying, falling on my face. I spat out leaves and dirt as I sat up, feeling suddenly drained and exhausted. Where were the witch and her cottage? I could still hear her ragged screams in my head.
I must have been with her longer than I thought because what little sunlight there wasn’t was already slipping away, leaving me squinting in the darkness. There was no way I’d be able to find my way back if it got dark.
I picked a direction and patiently picked my way through the thicket. I didn’t even feel the scrapes and pricks anymore—I was too frightened and too determined not to be stuck here.
A wolf howled, and I froze.
All around me, the forest suddenly came to life. Creatures skittered in the underbrush all around me, and several crows cawed loudly. I moved away from the bush and toward what open woods I could find.The knife was still in my hands, covered in the witch’s blood.
