“It’s my fault,” I managed to say. “I should have known better than to fall for him. He is a prince, after all. And I’m … nothing.”
“Shut your mouth, Willow. You are not nothing. You are beautiful and kind and smart. Prince or not, Nicolai should be counting his lucky stars that you gave him the time of day.”
I backed away from her and dragged the suitcase down the hallway and into my room. Grace followed me. “Nicolai will be gone soon,” I said. “Now that he’s not … sick anymore, there’s no reason for him to stay in Beaver Falls.”
Pain fueled me as I stuffed my suitcase with clothes. The ache in my heart was a million times worse than the pain of Peter’s dagger flying into my chest. But more than that, I was angry at myself for being so stupid.
“When will you come back?” Grace said.
Not until the Korzha brothers were long gone. “I’m not really sure.”
“I’m going to miss you.” She threw her arms around me. “You’re my best friend.”
“I’ll be back. I just can’t be here right now. It hurts too much.” I looked around my room. “This house has so many memories. And I just can’t face Nicolai.” He’d try to convince me that he didn’t care what his family thought, but in the end, he’d be forced to make an impossible decision. One that would take a toll on both of us. I didn’t want that. Running away was easier.
I swung my purse over my shoulder and dragged the packed suitcase behind me. Grace followed me into the living room.
“I’ll miss you, Willow.”
“I’ll miss you too, Grace.”
“I know that you said you can’t talk about what’s going on with you right now, but I hope you know that I’m here for you if you ever feel like talking. You know I can keep secrets.”
“I know, and I swear that eventually I’ll tell you everything,” I said biting my lip to keep from crying. “It’s just that, right now, I can’t. It’s too hard.”
Grace gave me a good-bye hug.
Since my car was still at the castle, I grabbed the keys to my father’s Volvo from the hook by the front door. I felt Grace’s eyes on me as I jumped into the driver’s seat. Before I lost my nerve, I peeled out of the driveway, ready to put as much distance between me and Beaver Falls, and Nicolai, as I could.
I’d told Grace I’d be back, but the further I drove, the more I began to realize that maybe I shouldn’t have made that promise. My heart ached in a way I couldn’t even wrap my mind around. I felt like I was hemorrhaging. One day the wound would heal but going back home would mean ripping it open again.
By the time I entered the city limits of Syracuse, where my brother Finn lived, hours had passed, and I’d made up my mind. It was time to start over. I would never, ever return to Beaver Falls.
Want to find out what happens next to Willow and Nicolai? Then click here to preorder your copy of The Runaway Witch, book 2 in The Cursed Prince series, right now!!
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Also by Teresa Roman:
Back to Us
Out of Nowhere
Someone Special
Second Chances
Daughter of Magic
Daughter of Darkness
Legacy
Acknowledgments
I’d like to give a special shout out to my loyal fans. Your support means more than I can say. I also want to thank all the people who have stood by me and cheered me on since I decided to start writing a few years ago. I can’t even begin to explain how much your encouraging words have meant to me. I am beyond grateful to my fabulous sister, who reads all of my manuscripts when they’re a hot mess and tells me how to fix them. A big thank you also goes to my editor, Linda Cassidy Lewis, and my bestie Rebecca who helped me craft the perfect blurb for this story. Last, but not least, I’d like to thank my children for their patience and encouragement.
About the Author
Teresa Roman writes contemporary and paranormal romance for adults and young adults. If it were possible to be born with a book in her hands, that’s how Teresa Roman would’ve entered this world. Her passion for reading is what inspired her to become a writer. She loves the way stories can take you to another time and place.
Born in Romania, Teresa has lived in the Midwest and on both coasts but currently calls Sacramento, California, her home. She lives there with her husband, three adorable children, three cats, and a dog. When she’s not at her day job or running around with her kids, you can find her in the kitchen, baking something sinful, in front of the computer, writing, or with her head buried in another book.
