Chapter 19

HEMLOCK

T here’s a hearth in the west wing lounge, one that’s been cleaned but not lit in a while. This is one of my favorite rooms because it mimics the sitting room in our home from before.

Before Ezekiel became a monster.

Before he built this castle.

Before it all.

We were happy once.

A family united.

Maybe there is hope for us to be that again. But it all hinges on Orina.

It takes but a moment to get a fire roaring, but movement of my arms causes an aching burn to race across my back where my skin is tight with slowly healing wounds from the whip lashes I administered. Funny how those wounds can heal other wounds and yet themselves remain as a constant reminder of the fact that this body is a prison.

I settle into my armchair mindful of my back. “It’s her, isn’t it? Orina is Arabella. We were right the first time.”

“Maybe.” Ordell sips his tea. He’s using one of the largest mugs I’ve seen, and the tea is dark and strong, the way he likes it when he’s stressed. “But she doesn’t believe it. Doesn’t want to. I think she’s afraid to allow herself to feel more for him than she already does.”

“Then we have to help her, push her, and?—”

“No. We let nature take its course. If we push her, we might scare her. We might cause her to put her defenses up even more. We need her to let her guard down. It’s the only way she’ll fall in love with him.”

She knows that the only way for the curse to be broken is for the incarnation of Arabella to fall in love with Ezekiel. Love, not lust. Not infatuation. And if she is indeed Arabella, as we think she is, then she’s not there yet, because if she was, the curse would have ended.

Love is such a funny thing.

“Love takes time,” Ordell says, echoing my thoughts. “Time that we have if we’re smart about it.”

“Do we?” I arch a brow, allowing my gaze to drop to his collar. “How much time do you have?” I keep my tone even and light to hide the panic that races through me at the thought of what’s happening to my brother.

“I’m fine,” he says. “It’s barely spread.”

He’s lying. “Let me see it.”

“No.”

Which means it’s definitely spreading. “Ordell, ignoring it won’t make it go away.”

“What choice do I have?”

What choice indeed, because the one thing that can save him could doom us all. “She’s almost there.”

“I know. I have hope.”

If only hope could save us.