Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(59)



I stick out my hand, and he suddenly clamps his hand onto my skin. Something like electricity seems to flow from his hand, and I let out a gasp of pain. Before I can yell at him, he removes his hand and hovers above my head. “That’s the best we can do for now. But there’s nothing we can do about Eddie, so remember what I said—stay away from him.”

“But why?”

Krev says something, but it comes out muffled and unclear. By now, his head is already fading, like a mist thinning out. A second later, he vanishes completely, leaving me staring in the dark.

It has to be a dream. A really bad dream.

I tell myself that Krev didn’t pop up after weeks of absence, and he didn’t issue a ridiculous warning about keeping away from Edward. But when I enter the bathroom, needing some water to rinse my face, I discover there is a strange mark on my arm, right at the spot where he pressed his hand on my arm. It’s a bright red X with a red circle around it, like a bizarre symbol. I am one hundred percent sure that this mark wasn’t there last night. I take a cloth and wash my arm with soapy water, trying to see if I can rub it off, but nothing happens. No matter how hard I scrub, the mark remains, a rather sinister-looking presence, especially when reflected in the mirror.

I throw the cloth into the basin and press my forehead against the looking glass. Krev’s warning seems to reverberate in the air. Just when I made the decision to stay in Athelia, he has to show up and tell me that Edward and I aren’t meant to be.

What did he mean when he told me it was a huge mistake? Seven years ago, he had no qualms about my being trapped in Athelia forever. Why is he telling me that I must leave? Why now?

Should I take Krev’s warning seriously? Why does he have to be so infuriating? He reminds me of Hercule Poirot, the detective in Agatha Christie’s novels. Poirot rarely lets anyone learn a clue, and he prefers to wait to reveal everything in the end.

Have the goblins changed? They seem a lot less powerful, less confident. Another scene comes to my mind—Krev once visited when Edward and I were staying at his eldest cousin’s house. He had told me that I had messed up Athelia’s history. Normally, the old Katriona would have come back, but since I’ve returned when I’m not supposed to, I guess the goblins are determined that I not make waves again.

What should I do?





29





It’s late in the morning when I wake up. Perhaps because I fainted last night, Amelie doesn’t rouse me as she usually does, like an alarm clock. Instead, when I ring the silver bell next to my bed, she comes in and brings me a breakfast tray. Just as well, because my mind is still reeling from Krev’s visit last night. I don’t feel like facing Edward or his parents now.

“Kat.” Edward enters my bedroom, concern written over his face. “How are you feeling now?”

I take a sip of hot milk mixed with honey. “I’m fine. Really.” Strangely, this morning I didn’t cough even once. It seems that after a fitful sleep, my strength is rejuvenated. Good, because I sure don’t want Dr. Jensen visiting again and questioning my childless state.

His eyes soften as he looks at me dressed in my nightgown, my long hair loosely curling down my front. “I’d stay with you, but Father wants me to accompany him. Augustin and Simone will be returning to Moryn today. Their carriages are already waiting in the courtyard.”

“Please tell them that I’m sorry that I can’t see them off,” I say. “And tell them that it’s been delightful showing them around, and I hope that they have found the visit a pleasant one.”

“Will do.” Edward smiles. It’s one of the rare occasions that he picks up my phrases. “I already told Augustin that we’ll be delighted to attend his wedding next year, and he seems quite pleased. Simone said that she’s looking forward to dressing you in Moryn fashion.”

I don’t miss the implication of his words. In a way, he is making me stay in his world, at least until next year, unless I’m callous enough to have him break his word to the emperor.

“All right.”

He smiles and rises from the chair near my bed. But before exiting my bedroom, he pauses. “Kat . . . about last night, in the gardens . . .”

Instantly, I know what he’s referring to. He knows that I’ve recovered all of my memories.

Were it not for Krev, I could have told him I love him. I could have gone to his bedroom last night.

Brisk footsteps head to my room, and Amelie pokes her head through the door. “Your Highness, beg pardon, but His Majesty is waiting outside. The emperor and his fiancée are about to set off.”

A lump forms in my throat as Edward leaves my bedroom. With all of my memories intact, it cuts deeply that I can’t tell Edward that I love him.

I need to get out. Not to escape, of course, but just for today. I consider going to Poppy’s, but she must be super busy with the twins. Elle is currently not at the capital, and if she were, she’d also likely be busy with her family, her multiple foundations, and other charity work.

Eventually, I decide to pay a visit to The Bookworm. While I can’t tell Mr. Wellesley the truth, talking to him usually removes some stress. I could also see if the newest release to that Gothic mystery romance series is out. It’s your typical commercial genre stuff, and I could pick out a million flaws, but geez, the series is addictive.

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