“Won’t the doctors and nurses wonder what happened?”
“You know better than that, Willow. Witches are, after all, quite skilled at making people believe things that aren’t true.”
The tone of his voice put me on edge.
“Where’s Nicolai?”
“At home, resting. It’s been a traumatic time for all of us.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“Fulfilling my role as the eldest brother.”
“And that would be?”
“I’m here to inform you that you and Nicolai have no future together. In a few days’ time, my brothers and I will be returning to Sarabia … without you. There is no place for you in Nicolai’s life.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “That’s not your decision to make, it’s Nicolai’s.”
Frederic smirked. “You’re under the impression that he’d be telling you something different if he was here, but sadly, you’re wrong. Nicolai is a prince. He is meant to marry royalty, not some witch from Beaver Falls, New York, no matter how beautiful she is. I’m sorry that you were ever under the impression that you were anything more than a distraction for my brother, a way to pass time while he was stuck in that castle.”
“He told me the two of us were meant for each other. That isn’t something you tell someone who’s just a distraction.”
“It is if you’re desperate for that person’s help to break your curse. Nicolai had to make you believe you were special to him. It was the only way to get his curse lifted.”
I sat up, shooting daggers at Frederic with my eyes. “You’re lying.”
Frederic leaned back and crossed his arms. “Am I?”
I pulled back the covers and let my legs drop to the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to find Nicolai. If he doesn’t want to be with me, then he can tell me himself.”
“Why would you do that to yourself, Willow? Haven’t you been through enough? Losing your father, being terrorized by that demon, almost dying. Do you really want to add having your heart ripped out to that list? I’m telling you this plain and simple. You will never be a part of our family. You will never be a Korzha. My brother might keep you around as his plaything for a while, but that’s all you’ll ever be. My father would never permit a marriage between his son and a commoner like you. I’m doing you a favor telling you this now before you become even more invested than you already are.”
I bit back the tears I felt fighting their way to the surface. I would not let Frederic see me cry. “You’ve always hated me.”
“I do not hate you. In fact, I’ve coveted you myself.” He reached out and rested his hand on my thigh, biting his lower lip at the same time. “You and I would have had fun in my bed.”
I smacked his hand away. “Get out of here. Now!”
“Thinks about what I’ve said. Hasn’t Nicolai been through enough? Do you really want to force him to choose between you and his family? If you truly cared about him then walk away.”
“I asked you to leave.”
Frederic stood. “The payment for your services will be deposited in your bank in the next several days.”
I stopped myself from picking up the flowers that Frederic had brought earlier and hurling them at him. I didn’t want his money, but the lump in my throat made it impossible to tell him that.
Without another word Frederic turned and left. As soon as he was gone, the tears I’d bottled in his presence trickled down my face. For a moment I just sat there processing his words. I was certain that he was lying about Nicolai’s feelings for me, but the rest was right. I had no place in Nicolai’s life. I’d known it all along, but foolishly I’d allowed myself to hope that I was wrong. His family would never accept me. Frederic certainly didn’t. And Nicolai’s parents had already chosen his bride. I didn’t want to leave Nicolai with an impossible choice because Frederic was right, Nicolai had been through enough.
Early-morning light filtered into the room between the slats of the window blinds. I reached for the phone that rested on the table beside my hospital bed and dialed Grace’s number, praying it wasn’t too early and that she’d pick up her phone.
“I need some clothes, and then I need you to drive me home,” I said as soon as she answered.
“You’ve been discharged already? How is that possible?”
“Never mind about that. I need to get out of here. Now.”
“Willow, what’s going on?”
“I … I can’t talk about it right now. Please, just bring me some clothes.”
She must have heard the urgency in my voice because twenty minutes later, Grace was there with a bag in her hands. She handed it to me, and I dressed in front of her.
Her eyes widened as she watched me. “I don’t get it. How are you able to move around like that?”
“It’s a long story.”
Grace frowned. “One I’m guessing you’re not planning on telling me right now.”
“I can’t, Grace. I’m sorry,” I said, slipping my feet into the shoes she’d brought me. “Can you please just drive me home?”
“If you’re sure that’s what you want.”
I followed her outside the hospital and over to her car. We drove back to my house in silence. I was sure that if I said a word, I’d start crying and wouldn’t be able to stop. After she pulled into the driveway, I ran into my house and grabbed a suitcase from the hall closet.
“Willow, I know you said you can’t tell me what’s going on with you, but at least tell me why you’re packing. Where are you planning on going?”
“Away,” I said. “I can’t be here right now. Maybe I’ll drive to Finn’s house and stay with him for a few days to clear my head. After that, I’m not sure. All I know is I can’t stay in Beaver Falls for another minute.”
Grace walked up to
