Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Well…all right. Let’s see about that,” I murmured. I picked up the square of folded fabric. I could tell if I unfolded it, it would be vast—a shimmering swath of whisper-thin silk. But I didn’t want to risk harming it. So instead, I folded it again…and again and again.
I kept expecting it to get too bulky to fold any more, but it didn’t. Whimsy was right—I could have kept folding until it disappeared completely. I didn’t want to do that, though—I stopped when the Veil of the Goddess was the size of one of those little packets of tissues you keep in your purse. I pushed it into my jacket pocket, along with the miniature tent Goodie A had given me and zipped it up to be sure I wouldn’t lose it.
When I was finished, I looked up at the wall.
The script shimmered and shifted one final time.
YOU HAVE CHOSEN. THE REST SHALL FADE, it read.
And one by one, the other artifacts dissolved into motes of light, leaving only the Veil, warm and pulsing with quiet, sacred power in my pocket.
The three of us stood there for a long moment, each of us holding our thoughts. I could feel wonder and uncertainty coming from both my guys. Ronan looked suspiciously at Whimsy.
“Well…now what?”
“Now what? Now you go!” Whimsy flittered in a glittering circle around our heads. “And the Vault of Dreams resets for the next Supplicant.”
“Oh…well, thank you,” I said to him, nodding. “We appreciate your help…and the magical item.”
“Remember—it will let you know the right time to use it,” the little flitterling said. “Now go—the way out is open for you but it won’t last forever.”
As he spoke, the moss-covered shoot we’d all slid down in the first place rippled. In the place of the slick moss, sturdy stone stairs formed. They led up and out of the cave, back to the forest.
“All right—let’s go. I’ll lead the way and you take the rear,” Ronan said to Finn. “Keep Goldie between us.”
I realized they were keeping me safe and I felt a warm glow. Between them was exactly where I belonged—I knew it. I was beginning to think that these two were meant to be my Heartmates…I just hoped they agreed.
“Goodbye,” Finn said over his shoulder, as we trooped up the stairs.
But there was no answer. Either Whimsy was tired of talking to us or he had gone back to his little hidey-hole to rest. Either way, we emerged from the cave and then, as Finn stepped out, the hole in the forest floor closed. A moment later, it looked like any other piece of ground.
“Well, that was fucking interesting,” Ronan growled as we looked around and reoriented ourselves towards Hidden Hollow.
“I wonder how we’ll use the Veil?” Finn murmured.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged and gave them both a smile. “But I have a feeling we’re going to find out. First, though, we need to get back home.”
“Home?” Ronan raised his eyebrows.
“My home,” I said, clarifying. “Though…it could be your home too—both of you. If you wanted it to be. You don’t have to answer right away,” I added quickly, seeing the uncertain look on Ronan’s face. “But after everything we’ve been though, well, it just feels like we belong together. You know?”
“I know.” Finn smiled down at me, his face open and warm. “I know exactly what you mean, and I feel the same way, baby.” He looked hopefully at Ronan. “Don’t you feel it, too?”
The big Were got a guarded look on his face.
“We’ll see,” he growled. “For right now, let’s break this fucking curse. Then we can discuss long-term living arrangements.”
Finn and I shared a look. It seemed to be the best we were going to get out of Ronan…at least for now.
“All right, boys,” I said. “Let’s go home.”
And we turned toward the twinkling lights of Hidden Hollow.
21
GOLDIE
But once we got back home, it turned out that breaking the curse wasn’t quite as simple as we had initially hoped.
“I’m sorry, my dears,” Goody Albright said, giving Ronan and Finn apologetic glances. “But I cannot brew the potion.”
“What? But you promised you could!” Ronan looked outraged but the emotion I felt coming from him was mostly fear.
From Finn, I felt despair.
“I don’t know how much longer I can keep from Shifting back to my Fur Form,” he groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “The damn thing keeps urging me to change…to let my Bear out…to let him take over forever.”
“Now, now—I didn’t mean to upset you. Just because I cannot brew the potion doesn’t mean no one can,” Goody Albright said soothingly.
“If not you, then who?” I asked. “Willow? She makes excellent Lust Tea but I don’t know about curse breaking potions.”
“No, no, my dear! You must do it.” Goody A tapped my chest with one beautifully manicured nail.