“What are you thinking about?” Raj asked.
I shrugged. “Just wondering what I’ll do when this quest is over. Do you think I could come back and visit?”
“Yes, I don’t see why not.” He smiled, and the amber firelight flickering in his eyes made heat rush to my cheeks. What would it be like to spend my life here—with him? The thought seemed absurd in every way possible, and I couldn’t imagine such a future becoming reality. He was supposed to rescue the princess and kill the witch.
When the song ended, Raj led me to the edge of the crowd where we found Drekken and the dwarf waiting. The elf held his lute, his fingers twitching over the strings. The dwarf stood with his usual scowl.
“We’ve been waiting hours for you,” the dwarf grumbled. “When are we leaving this place?”
My heart sank. I didn’t want to ponder it.
“Soon enough,” Raj answered. “We’ll leave in the morning as soon as possible. I trust you’ve enjoyed your stay here?”
“I have,” Drekken chimed in. “It’s important for me to learn of all types of music and instruments. What a wonderful land you have here! The music is unlike anything I’ve heard before.”
The dwarf crossed his arms. “It grates on my nerves.”
“You’re welcome to leave at any time,” Raj said. “You’ve no need to hang around here. Our journey will only grow more dangerous as we leave this land to travel through the northern wastes.”
“Nay. I’ll not leave while this curse is still plaguing me. Your witch must cure me.”
Raj and I traded glances. “There’s a chance that may never happen,” I said. “The witch who did this to you stole your name for good reason. She knows if you can’t remember it, no one will have the power to reverse the spell. I don’t know how you expect me to help you.”
“Because I will remember my name. That’s how. Once I do, I expect you to fix this curse.” He turned and walked away, his wooden leg tapping the cobblestones as he went.
My shoulders slumped. He expected the impossible.
“Well,” Drekken said with a swig from his flask. “I should leave as well. I want to know more about the instruments here. Plus, I may have spotted a comely lass or two.” He winked. “If you’ll excuse me.” He walked away, slinging his lute’s strap over his shoulder, humming a tune as he walked.
Raj grunted. “He’s nothing but trouble.”
“I agree. But you have to admit, his lute comes in handy.”
“Yes, there is that.”
Raj led me to what appeared to be a bench, but as I studied the large block of chipped stone, I realized it must’ve been part of a building. As we sat, I noticed the crowd had thinned, and only a few people danced near the fire. The music drifted—softer now—and its melody lulled me. I’d never been to a more perfect place.
“Gothel,” Raj said, “I hope I’m not being too forward, but I feel I need to admit something to you.”
“Admit what?”
He took my hands in his, and the intensity in his dark eyes caused me to catch my breath. “I’m falling in love with you.”
A gasp escaped my mouth. “What?”
“I know this is horrible timing. There’s a chance we’ll never survive this quest. The high sorcerer’s squadrons are trying to kill us. We don’t have a certain future, especially if one were to believe in foretellings. But I can’t keep my feelings inside any longer. I want you to know how I feel about you.”
His confession shouldn’t have come as a surprise. I’d suspected it for some time, yet shock overrode my senses. I didn’t know what to say. I’d never been put in such a situation before. My pounding heart felt as if it would break through my chest. But I knew I had to be honest with him. The dwarf’s words came back to me, and I knew I may never get another chance.
“Raj, I feel the same way.”
“You do?”
I nodded. He smiled—that brilliant expression that stole my breath. I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt happier, here in this place, where my worries seemed so far away. The fire crackled as Raj pushed a strand of hair out of my face. He leaned closer and pressed a kiss to my lips. My heart swelled. He tasted of peppermint, and the scent of wild curry and masculine spice enveloped me.
When he pulled away, I forgot to breathe. He squeezed my hand. “Will you wait for me? I’ve got to speak to my mother, and I’m already late. It shouldn’t take long.”
“Yes, of course.” I realized then that I would always wait for him. No matter where he went or how far away he was, I would always wait for him. He gave me another quick kiss, then stood and walked away.
I sat on the bench and tried to breathe. I could hardly make sense of how I felt. Surely these sorts of feelings couldn’t be normal. They were too overpowering, too all-encompassing. Was this what love felt like?
I pressed my hands to my cheeks, feeling the heat radiating from my skin. Raj had admitted he loved me, and I’d admitted the same. Was it wrong to feel so happy? My own mother had lost her husband after only a few years of marriage. What if the same happened to me?
But I was overthinking this as usual. He’d admitted he loved me, not that he wanted to marry me, and that was a big difference.
I stood and wandered to the fire where only a few people lingered. They cast curious glances my way, but I dodged
