warmth failed to check the chill seeping into Lyra's chest. She stood moti

ever it is... br

wist of fate that brought this damn man-this prince-into her world didn't e

eflexively reached out t

and hoarse. He was sitting on the edge of the rug now, his head ti

ng a sudden sting i

unwavering. "Stay away from me, o

sence mere moments before. Her stomach twisted, but she didn't step back. Ins

port. "Not as you would think. It's not simply the change, the m

gaunt, tall form blocked the space between them as he stood up. Lyra's heart

ommanded. "Tell

, and then to the window, where the moonlight kept lighting the snow ou

word carefully. "A prince, yes. One bound by a prophecy-one that I could not

rse upon our house. He incurred the wrath of the gods, de

ands, like they di

ed to live, destined to become beasts every hundred years. And with that change came a terrible cost.

She drew nearer, the pounding of her beat

rapped in man's form, condemned to roam the earth to eternity. My spirit wi

e unadorned pain in his eyes. She felt it-a pain so d

"This curse-it will tie you to me, one way or the other. You get too close,

won't. The curse will kill

elp but feel the tug of something old and powerful between them. Something

r voice firm, although her mind seethed with u

o me. It's not just my life that will be lost. The curse will drag you down into darkness, draw you unde

He reached for her, his hand trembling as it brushed her cheek, and she couldn't he

softly, almost to herself. "We'll fi

d. It's too dangerous. The curse is so ancient, and no one has ever been able to shatter it. If

otion that rose up in her. "I don't care what you think. I care abo

ain, but Kael retreated,

't allow you to risk your life for me. You don't understand what you're s

nguish beneath them was real. He didn't want her to

he said softly but firmly.

at her with a look that was part disbelief, part s

ur doom, too,

he was already too far along. No curse-no matter how