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

head. “You have no idea how long I’ve searched for someone like you. Your soul is like a drug, one I’m no longer satisfied with just sips of.”

Nicolai lunged at Peter.

“No!” Alexander called out.

Peter’s body was somehow thrown into the wall behind him, out of Nicolai’s reach. I looked over my shoulder at Maria whose face was a mask of concentration.

“I’m outnumbered and at a clear disadvantage, but when the time is right, I will return for you because you are mine.” Peter winked at me then licked his lips. “Until we meet again, sweet Willow.”

Peter turned and ran from the room.

“After him,” Maxim roared.

No sooner had those words left his mouth when he and Alexander shifted into wolves and bounded away. Nicolai tried to follow but I grabbed his arm.

“Let me go.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Maria said.

“I’m going to kill that monster.”

Maria shook her head. “We both know you cannot. Let your brothers handle this.”

“She’s right,” I said. “If Maria hadn’t used her magic to move Peter out of your way he would’ve learned of your weakness.”

“And used it against you,” Maria added.

Nicolai pulled his arm free from my grasp and balled his hand into a fist crying out in anger as he punched the wall nearest to him. Castle walls were made of stone though, so the only damage he did was to himself.

“You’re bleeding.” I handed him a napkin from the table which he pressed over his raw knuckles.

“I’m fine.” He looked down at my hands, which were still shaking. “But you’re not.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“You’re trembling,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “Please tell me that you’ve changed your mind about staying here.”

“How am I going to explain all this to my father?” I shook my head. “He never wanted me to learn about magic or witchcraft in the first place, and now I’m neck deep. He’s not going to be happy.”

“You were involved with Peter before you learned about being a witch,” Maria said. “With your powers bound, you were helpless. But you aren’t anymore.”

“What do you think he would’ve done to me if you hadn’t warned me about him?”

“His plan was most certainly to feed off you for years, slowly draining you until there was nothing left but a shell. A mindless woman with no power and no ability to care for herself,” Maria said. “Or perhaps he would’ve planted his seed inside you.”

“That’s enough, Maria,” Nicolai practically howled.

She stood in front of Nicolai and me with her hands on her hips. “It doesn’t matter what the incubus would’ve done. Don’t you two see it? You were meant to save each other. It is your destiny.”

I shook my head, too unnerved by tonight’s events to ponder Maria’s words. I loosened my hand from her grip and backed away.

“Where are you going?” Nicolai asked.

“Home. To pack a suitcase.”

“I can send a servant to do that. I’d feel much better if you remained here.”

Before I could reply Maxim and Alexander returned, still in their wolf form.

“They couldn’t catch him.” Nicolai’s jaw clenched. “The incubus was too fast for them.”

“Too fast for wolves,” Maria said. “That means he must’ve fed recently.”

“There’s nothing to be done about Peter. At least not right now,” Nicolai said. He turned to face me. “Let one of my brothers go with you to gather your things. It’s not safe for you to be alone.”

“I’d like to come along as well.”

“Thank you, Maria,” Nicolai said. “That would make me feel much better.”

“We’ll wait in the foyer while your brothers, well, you know.”

Maria and I left the room. A few minutes later Alexander joined us.

“Where’s Maxim?” I asked.

“He went to look for Frederic.”

“That means Nicolai will be here all by himself,” I said.

“He has a castle full of servants to keep him company,” Alexander replied.

“Human servants,” Maria reminded him.

“It’s what Nicolai wants.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine.” At the sound of Nicolai’s voice, I turned my head. He walked up to Alexander. “Just promise that you’ll bring Willow back to me safely.”

Alexander bowed his head. “Of course, brother.”

Chapter 19

We drove to my house in silence. I kept glancing at Alexander, who sat beside me, and Maria through my rearview mirror, hoping to glean something from their expressions. I’d spent enough time with Maria over the past few weeks that I’d come to recognize when she was worried or upset. Alexander was a little harder to read, but I knew he’d protect me for his brother’s sake.

I pulled into the driveway. The three of us got out of the car.

“Do you sense anything?” Maria asked Alexander.

He nodded. “Peter’s scent. He was here earlier.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I dashed up to the door in a panic. It was unlocked. But that wasn’t necessarily unusual. This was Beaver Falls, after all, not New York City. A lot of people didn’t lock their doors. I pushed it open and called out, “Dad? Are you in here?”

No answer. It was late enough that he might already be sleeping. I headed down the hall with Maria and Alexander trailing behind me and knocked on my father’s bedroom door. When he didn’t answer, I pushed it open. In the darkened room, I made out his silhouette lying on the bed and breathed a sigh of relief. Normally, I wouldn’t wake him, but staying here until the morning wasn’t safe. I crept over to my father’s bed, sat down on the edge of it, and tapped his shoulder. “Dad, wake up.”

When he didn’t respond, I shook him harder. Something about the way he felt under my hand wasn’t right. I gulped down the fear inside me, chalking it up to paranoia.

“Maria,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “Can you please turn on the light?”

She flicked on the switch. One look at my father was all it took to confirm my fear. I let out a wounded yelp.

“Willow, what’s wrong?” Maria rushed to my side and looked down at my father. Her face paled