Chapter 86

FELIX

I woke up the morning after my wedding to Mila without feeling in my left hand.

It was the morning of my 30th birthday, the day that the curse would set in if I did not find my Destined Bride. Mila and I were married now–everything was legal and official. There was no reason for the curse to activate. Everything should have been perfect. For once, I had done everything right.

But it was all for naught.

The night before, at the reception, Esmeralda had pulled me aside, terror in her eyes.

“I am afraid the wedding is not enough,” she said softly.

I stared at her, my heart dropping to my stomach.

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible.

Esmeralda’s eyes darted around. “There is strange magic afoot. I can feel it. There is something we are missing–the curse is not yet broken.”

I looked across the room to where my new wife was smiling and talking with my parents. I ached at the thought of a short marriage, of losing everything we had worked so hard for.

“I am trying my best to figure out a solution,” Esmeralda said. “But, Felix, you must know–”

“Mila cannot know of this tonight,” I said coldly, cutting her off. “We’ll deal with it in the morning. Please, Esmeralda. Let me have my wedding night.”

Esmeralda merely nodded and watched me walk away.

Despite what I’d said, the realization that I was still battling the same old demons weighed heavily on my mind. I knew that Mila could sense that something was wrong–she knew me too well. Even when we were having sex, my mind was still focused on the inevitability of the morning.

And now…

I tried to stretch and flex my left hand, but it would not budge. It was frozen, limp, and even me pinching the skin on my knuckles was not enough to create any sort of sensation.

My blood ran cold. All of my worst fears were coming true. None of it had been enough.

Next to me, Mila stirred in the bed, slowly waking up. She yawned and stretched, smiling as she saw me.

“Good morning, husband,” Mila said, her tone teasing.

I could not muster a response. I could only stare at my hand.

“Is something wrong?” Mila asked, scrambling to sit upright and take a look at me.

I turned to her, dread weighing down my tongue.

“Is something up with your hand?” Mila looked down at the comforter, seeing my hand laying limply. Her face went white with terror and she looked up at me.

The fear in her eyes broke my heart.

“The curse,” I finally managed. “It’s here.”

As soon as we were dressed, Mila and I raced to my parents’ meeting room. As we moved, a tiny bit of feeling made its way back into my hand, but still nothing like normal.

My parents and Esmeralda were gathered in seconds. All I had to do was raise my paralyzed hand and it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over the room.

My mother immediately burst into tears. My father tilted his eyes downward, as if in an effort to hide his own sadness.

“The curse has awakened?” he asked softly. “Despite your marriage?”

“Yes,” I said. “I had no feeling in my left hand when I awoke this morning.”

“What about now?” my father questioned. “You seem to be moving it just fine.”

I threw an uncertain glance Esmeralda’s way. “It seems that the feeling has almost entirely returned.”

Esmeralda nodded once. “The curse will take a few months to settle in completely. Right now, you may only experience temporary paralysis.”

“And we are still sure that Mila is your Destined Bride?” my father asked, throwing a glance her way. “There’s no chance there was some mistake?”

I shook my head. “I know deep in my bones that she is my Bride. Esmeralda herself confirmed it.”

At the mention of her name, the witch finally spoke up. “I could always tell that Mila was the one destined for Felix. Unfortunately, as the wedding day drew closer, my magic began to sense that something was off. Mila is his Bride, but I suspect that marriage may not be enough to break the curse.”

“You knew this whole time and said nothing?!” My father was practically yelling. In all my life, I had never seen him raise his voice towards Esmeralda. He respected the witch as much as any noblewoman. But this was different. The arrival of the curse had set my entire family on edge.

“I told Prince Felix last night, sir,” Esmeralda said, casting her eyes towards me frantically.

“Wait, you knew last night and didn’t say anything?” Now Mila had joined the chaos.

I closed my eyes, feeling a headache coming on. “There was not a good chance.”

“You didn’t think to tell your wife that you were dying?” Mila was furious. I had not heard that kind of anger from her since she found out about the Dragon Knights in the first place. “We’re partners now, Felix. We’ve wasted valuable hours that we could have spent looking for a cure.”

“Felix,” my mother said desperately. “There must be a way to break this. Maybe say your vows to Mila again?”

“Marriage is not enough,” Esmeralda insisted impatiently. “There is another way. There has to be.”

“Well, find it!” my mother shrieked.

I raised my hand, forcing them all into silence. With a heavy heart, I knew that there was still another confession to get through.

“There is something else I must tell you,” I said. Although I was addressing the room, my eyes were only on Mila. She was the only thing that mattered now.

“Something else?” Mila’s brow furrowed. “What else is there?”

I swallowed hard. There was no use keeping secrets anymore, especially from my wife.

“I have formed a war council to combat Charles’ movements,” I announced. “We have received intel from multiple sources that he has raised an army with the intent of taking over not only Fresonia, but all its neighboring kingdoms.”

“An army?” my father’s voice trembled.

“An army of second sons,” I confirmed. “Their goal is to overthrow the current leadership of the Dragon Knights and start a new dynasty of their own. Charles is the leader.”

“How long have you had this war council and not thought to mention it to your king?!” my father demanded to know. I lowered my head as his words hit me, knowing that he was right.

“As the future King of Fresonia–” I began, but cut myself off when I saw the fury in my father’s face.

“We are considering all the options to defeat Charles,” I landed on finally. “But yes, a council has been formed. There are representatives from all over the kingdoms. We will go to war soon.”

Mila raised a silent hand to her mouth. There were a million emotions on her face–hurt, betrayal, anger, and fear. I knew that she was likely silently cursing me for keeping her in the dark.

My mother had no such reaction. Instead, she rushed from the room. My father’s lips tightened as he ran out after her.

I stared at the door. I had hurt them all with my deception.

But judging by the expression on Mila’s face, I might have hurt her the most.