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Chapter 24: Should I Date Him?

*Warren*

Sitting on the bench in the gardens, sipping wine, and listening to Ciana’s story, wave after wave of confusion washed over me.

She was speaking about an incident eight years ago, and yet… I didn’t remember it at all.

Lost in the woods? Wounded? Collecting a flower blossom for her from the top of a mountain on the cliff? I was fairly certain that if I had been there, I would remember at least a bit of this.

When she concluded her story with, “When I saw your bracelet, I knew for sure… you were the one. You were the young man I found in the woods all of those years ago. All this time, I have been dreaming of meeting you again.” Her cheeks blush a dark crimson, and I understood that she was saying these things as more than just a girl who has found a long lost friend.

She had feelings for this young man-for me?

“Wow…” I said, not sure how else to respond. “All of this time….”

“Right?” She beamed and then looked away from me, sipping her wine. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to find out it was you.” She wouldn’t look at me now, and I felt my own heat speeding up.

Ciana was a beautiful young lady. Her long blonde hair and light colored eyes that glimmer in the moonlight make her stand out, even above all of the other girls that had been brought to the castle by my father to court my brother.

Any man would be happy to be paired with such a lovely woman. Any, except for my brother. Just thinking about Theo set my mood off, so I decided not to think about him at all.

But the story Ciana had told me didn’t line up at all with how I’ d gotten this bracelet. She seemed certain that this was the same bracelet, too, the one she’d given to the young man.

So… how had my sister come across it?

I remember distinctly the day my older sister, Maggie, gave it to me, slipping it onto my wrist as she told me it would be a good luck charm for me, that she’d found it in a special place, and it would bring me blessings if I wore it every day.

Well, if it brought me to Ciana, then… my sister was right. It was definitely good luck.

Nevertheless, something wasn’t adding up here. Perhaps I was so injured in the woods that I simply couldn’t remember the events?

No, I was positive I had never been in that sort of situation. Whoever she’d met in the woods, it wasn’t me.

When she turned to look at me again, her cheeks were still pink, and she was smiling so happily at me, I couldn’t bring myself to be the one to make that smile fade. Rather than telling her the truth, I said, “I’ve always wondered what happened to that girl in the woods.” Her smile widened even

more. “It’s amazing that fate has brought us together again.”

“Yes, isn’t it?” she agreed, laughing softly before she diverted her gaze again. She raised the red liquid to her perfect pink lips again and took a sip.

I was lost in her smile for a moment.

so easily awoken from the curse only a few weeks ago. I could tell Dottie hadn’t told me everything, and that made me curious. I’ d wanted to know how it was possible that Ciana could wake up on her own from the evil words

her.

a few helpful books. I’d spent quite a bit of time reading them because, honestly, my schedule was fairly empty most of the time. No one had noticed I’d been in the library for days, just like no one

the books talked about how some of the most dangerous, deadliest curses could not be completely cast on those who had been blessed by the Moon

possible that Ciana was one

the power of the Moon Goddess anymore or worshiped her much at all, but I got the impression

explain how my brother had become slightly interested in her. Perhaps he could sense she was special and might be able to

my spine, just thinking about it. All of a sudden,

all right?” Ciana asked

I was just… remembering my injuries. I’m

but reach over and brush her hair back

her skin sent a bolt of heat and excitement up my arm, leaving me

them happen. Like this time, she escaped my brother’s dungeon to make her way home when it was so far away, over such

as a prince, but had lived a life that was filled with boredom and

came to the palace, she was like sunshine, brightening the days for those

She was truly special.

running away from my brother,

hair. She was smiling at me, but there was a slight

it was almost a whisper. “What would you think

doing

“Well, yeah, I guess so.

date?” She looked surprised

to turn bright red. “I mean, if you

told me there was more to what she was thinking than

was just glad she’d said

she was absolutely adorable.

“but,” of course. Why was she

told is happening there is true,

you

wait for you.” I placed my index finger against her lips and

on her face deepened, and I

took a long drink. The day had been full of revelations. Just when I thought I was starting to understand this girl, it turned out… maybe I

not.

welcome, my

***

*Ciana*

have just

I’d had the conversation with Warren I’d been thinking of starting since I’d first seen the bracelet