The Cursed Prince, Teresa Roman [the reader ebook TXT] 📗

is to move in here until he’s been dealt with.”

I shook my head. “I can’t do that.”

Nicolai frowned. “Why not?”

“Well, because first of all, we literally just got together.”

“This castle is huge. You would have your own room.”

“I can’t leave my father.”

He smiled and brushed a few strands of hair off my forehead with his hand. “This is why I care for you so deeply. You are the most selfless person I have ever met.”

His compliment made me blush. He kissed me again, briefly, softly. My heart melted into a puddle.

“You wouldn’t have to leave your father, you know. He is more than welcome here.”

“I don’t know, Nicolai.”

“It will only be temporary. Once my brothers can assure me of your safety, I won’t stop you if you want to leave.”

All this talk of soul-sucking demons and being in danger was starting to wear on me. How had my life gotten so complicated? “Can we please just talk about something else?”

“Like what?” Nicolai led me over to a settee along the back wall of the room. We sat beside each other.

“Oh, I don’t know. How about the Wiccan ceremony Maria talked about yesterday?”

“I know as much about it as you do,” he said. “That must have been what Maria came in here to talk to us about earlier.”

I smiled. “Before you ran her off?”

Nicolai held my chin in his hands and stared into my eyes, making me feel all fluttery again. “I wanted to do this,” he said before pressing his lips on mine again.

I didn’t want to stop kissing Nicolai, but somehow, I managed to ease myself out of his arms. “There will be plenty of time for that later,” I said. “But not until your curse is broken. Which means we need to go look for Maria.”

I took his hand and pulled him to his feet. We found Maria in the salon with Nicolai’s brothers.

“You won’t be able to practice spells tonight,” she said as I entered the room. “You’re too weak for that.”

“I’m sorry, Maria.” I cast my eyes downward, staring at the floor. “I’d been I should’ve listened to you when you tried to warn me about Peter.”

She sighed. “And I’m sorry for being so hard on you. It is known that the charms of an incubus are hard to resist.”

And yet I had in the end, because of Nicolai. I glanced at him.

“Willow will need protection,” he said. “Can I count on all of you to give it to her?”

“Of course,” Maxim said.

“We won’t let anything happen to her, Nic,” Alexander said. “I swear.”

Frederic remained silent. I didn’t want it to bother me that he disliked me so much, but it did.

“When will Nicolai and I have our ceremony?” I asked.

“During the next full moon. That’s when magic is most enhanced. It’s our best chance,” Maria replied.

“That’s not for another two weeks,” Frederic grumbled.

“Like I said, a full moon gives us the best chance of breaking your brother’s spell,” Maria said. “We can only do this ceremony once, which means we have to get it right.”

“We’ve waited this long,” Maxim added. “Another two weeks won’t hurt.”

“Yes. It will,” Frederic growled. “You don’t understand. We need to get out of this forsaken place as soon as possible. Before any more damage is done.”

“What are you talking about?” Alexander asked. “What damage?”

“If you don’t know, then you’re a fool.” Without giving anyone a chance to get a word in, Frederic stormed off.

“What the hell is his problem?” I said.

“Do you have all night?” Nicolai muttered under his breath.

“Where do you think he’s off to?” Alexander asked.

“Probably went to blow off some steam like he always does when he’s upset,” Nicolai replied.

“This isn’t a good time for any of us to go running off on our own. Not with that incubus roaming about.”

“I’m not worried about Frederic. He can take care of himself,” Maxim said. He looked around the room at all of us standing there. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m hungry. How about dinner?”

“I think that’s a very good idea,” Maria said.

“Then I should talk to the kitchen staff.”

“I’ll go with you.” Maria threaded her arm through Maxim’s. They took only a few steps before the sound of arguing voices stopped them in their tracks and turned all our heads. One of the voices was accented. The other belonged to Peter. My heart froze.

He burst into the salon with a servant trailing behind him shouting, “You must leave. You are not welcome here.”

“You lied to me,” Peter hissed as he trained his eyes on me. “I knew she was in here.”

“Andre, go,” Nicolai addressed his employee, then his gaze shifted to Peter. He glared at him. “You heard Andre. You are not welcome here.”

“Do I look like I care?” Peter replied.

“Peter, what are you doing here?” I asked.

He smiled, his blue eyes gleaming. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m looking for you.”

“Willow doesn’t want anything to do with you,” Maria said.

“Of course she does. She’s my girlfriend.”

Nicolai’s arm snaked around my waist. He pulled me closer to him. “Not anymore.”

Peter stared at the two of us like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Is that right, Willow?”

“Peter, this isn’t the time or place for this discussion,” I said. “We’ll talk about it later, privately.”

Maxim grumbled. “That’s not a good idea, Willow. You need to stay as far away from that demon as possible.”

Peter’s smile turned into a scowl. “So you know.” His eyes darted in Maria’s direction. “I suppose it was that old witch who told you.”

“That’s right. I figured out that you are an incubus not long after Willow introduced us.”

“None of that matters now,” Nicolai said. “Willow is with me.”

“No.” Peter’s eyes flashed. His expression made my heart race and my hands clammy. “Willow is mine.” His hand clenched into a fist.

My stomach coiled into a knot. “I know what you’ve been doing to me, and I will never let you touch me again.”

Peter laughed. “Oh yes, you will.” He shook his