Rian would be king one day, and taking a witch to wife would earn him only enemies. Everyone who knew of my witchery, save Rian and my sisters, had come to fear me. I will make no sacrifices with my freedom, for I want to be no woman’s husband but yours.” “A sacrifice, like this one? You sacrificed when you made the Witch’s Bargain for protection, but you became a witch in truth. He kissed the stump of my missing finger. He reached down and grabbed my left hand. Your marriage will keep our love safe from those who would do it harm.”

We shall think of your marriage as an act of sacrifice. Find some vapid virgin girl of noble birth to marry and get heirs from. I do not need a wedding to love you, to fuck you, or to sleep beside you at night. “You credit me with stricter honor than I possess.

“I did not say you had to give me up.” I kissed his hard, angry lips. I had to force the words from my lips, but because I loved Rian, I could not let them go unsaid. I’d have hanged for my crimes, if ever I’d dared cross anyone with the power and wealth to buy protection from my spells.” I am a lawbreaker I practice dark magics. “Rian, you shall need an act of the gods to convince them to allow you to marry a witch. I will need some measure of unnatural Charm to convince my father and the council to allow me to marry a commoner.” “It is as well part of the curse remains. The moonlight has weakened your curse enough for me to resist it, though I fear it will still have a strong hold on anyone who has all of his fingers and toes.” “Is it…?” He put his hands on my shoulders. Though the curse still hid his true face, it no longer pulled at my will or sought to fill my mind with desire. Just as the vial of moonlight alone had never fully protected me from the Prince’s curse, so it did not fully negate the curse when it hung from Rian’s neck. I’d been about to say his curse still made the ghost of my lost finger burn, and it still tugged at my will, but it did not.

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