Prologue (2)

Misha's eyes flew open and she looked at the ceiling. The pattern was familiar and she felt relief. She was in Draco's room, the ruler of Vampires.

She lifted herself off the bed. The last time she was here was at least three months ago. This was the shortest time she had been away in a while.

She winced a little as she felt pain in her shoulders and her head. She felt weak. Just how long was she out for? She had expected some damage but not this much.

"You're awake," a voice said.

Misha jerked and raised her head. A figure was sitting in the corner of the room with his left ankle resting on his right knee.

"Your Highness," Misha called out and tried to get out of the bed.

"Don't move," he ordered. "You have been out for a full day."

Misha's eyes widened in horror. "A full day?"

"Yeah," he responded and stood up from the chair. "I am assuming the magic cast by the Orc King was pretty strong."

Misha nodded, blushing slightly as Draco came closer, standing next to the bed. "It wasn't just any magic but a curse."

"I figured, only a curse can deal that amount of damage in such a short time." He bent to sit on the bed and Misha made room for him.

He looked her in the eye and Misha felt a shiver in her soul as their eyes met. You'd think after this much time had passed he didn't have this effect on her.

Draco spread open his arms and Misha didn't think, she threw herself on him, clinging tightly. Her eyes welled with tears as she hugged him as tightly as she could. Who knew when she would be able to do this again?

"I thought we'd lost you," he said. His voice sounded heavy.

Misha chuckled, "It would take more than the Orc King to kill me."

"True, you put a new definition to the term tough as nails, little bear."

Misha looked away, "I am too old to be called that."

Suddenly, the door was thrown open and they both separated, pulling away from each other. Queen Alana walked through the open door and frowned but quickly covered her expression.

"Misha," she said sweetly, walking toward them. "You're awake."

"Yes," Misha replied with a stiff smile. She hated the feeling of guilt that climbed up her chest.

"I am glad," she said, stopping in front of the bed. "Davien is moving around again. In a day, he has made this much progress. Thank you so much."

Misha bent her head, "Please don't thank me. Not yet. I haven't healed the prince, I don't have the magic to, and frankly, I don't think anyone else does."

"What?" Queen Alana looked from her husband to Misha. "He is fine, there is no pain at all and he can feed as he normally does. What do you mean he isn't healed?"

"He is not healed. I am so sorry," she said and covered her face with her palms.

"Explain Misha," Draco commanded.

She nodded and pulled her palms away from his face. "All I did was cover the Orc King's curse with mine. It didn't heal him, it simply placed the curse on pause. The lack of pain is the effect of my magic, he is still very much injured."

"The hole is gone," Queen Alana said, she didn't sound very convinced.

"Yeah, that is also the effect of my magic."

"That doesn't make any sense, Misha."

"I know but it is the truth. I will only be able to keep the curse at bay for a month, two is pushing it. Unfortunately, the consequence is as soon as my curse wears out, the curse will hit him in full force. All the time that I kept the curse on pause will hit all at once and I doubt there will be ashes left."

"Oh," Alana cried, falling to the ground clutching her chest.

Her mate rushed to her side and grabbed her, lifting her into his arms as her tiny figure clung to him sobbing. The scene made Misha's chest hurt, she turned her gaze away.

"Surely, there must be a solution," the King said after Alana had stopped sobbing.

"There is," she replied. "However, I am only about eighty percent sure it will work."

"Eight percent? That's pretty high. We will take it. What do we have to do? Scale through the treacherous mountains of Listeria? Capture a creature that resides in the waters of…"

"No," Misha interrupted. "Nothing of that sort."

"Then what is it?" Queen Alana asked, pulling her face from her mate's neck.

"He would have to marry a certain human."

"What?!" They said, simultaneously.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Alana asked, wiping her face.

"I wish it was," she replied.

"Who is this human?" Alana asked.

"The second Princess of the Kingdom of Landerfell. I am sure you have heard of the Haelan Princess. It isn't a term that is given lightly even mages who specialize in healing magic almost never get the Haelan title. It is said that she can heal almost any kind of sickness and curses alike, there is no limit to her powers."

"I have heard of this Haelan Princess."

"You have?" Alana asked, jerking her head to her mate.

"I have but I don't understand why he has to marry her, we can just ask her to heal him. Whatever her request will be in exchange for healing him, we can fulfill." Draco's brows furrowed in confusion.

"I wish it was that easy your highness, remember I said it was an eighty percent chance, right?"

"Yes?" He responded with a frown.

"But we would only get that if certain things are put in place. I only placed another curse without erasing any part of the Orc King's curse and it had this much effect on me. Now think of what would happen if she tried to completely erase it…"

"She would die," Alana replied with a terrified expression.

"Yes," Misha replied.

"How does marrying him change this?"

"There are times when feelings bypass certain rules. I am sure you have seen it in action, Your Highness."

An unreadable expression passed across Draco's face. "This isn't about getting married to the Princess but getting her to fall for him."

"I am afraid so," Misha said.

"That doesn't make any sense," Alana retorted.

"I know but you would be surprised what the feelings of Love can do when it comes to magic."

"That sounds like something out of a fairytale but is it truly the only approach we can take?" Alana asked.

"Surely, there is something else. Like killing the Orc King?" Draco added.

Misha shook her head, "Not even that. This type of curse won't leave even if you kill the caster. There are usually conditions attached and the only way to find out exactly what you have to do to break the curse would be to ask the caster and that is also completely out of the question. Moreover, to guess what it could possibly be is going to take too long. It could be as little as touching a leaf and it can be as high as sacrificing a life. We don't have that time."

"How is getting a human to fall for him, any faster?" Alana asked.

"I don't know, I truly wish I had some other answer but we are pressed for time, and we…" Misha's words caught in her throat as she began to cough. She covered her mouth with her palm.

"Sorry," Alana cried as she rushed down from her mate's arms to Misha's side. She climbed the bed easily and sat beside Misha. "You just woke up and we are bombarding you this much."

Alana touched Misha on her shoulders and if she wasn't coughing for her dear life she would have flinched. She pulled her hand from her mouth and there was blood splatter across her palm. Misha swore as her eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness.