The Queen’s Curse

Chapter 9

CYRUS POV

It’s going to be hard to keep my desire from getting the best of me being so close with Ada alone but I have to. We have to break this curse for her to find out we’re mates. I know she lusts for me, I can smell her desire and it’s driving me crazy.

“I have a witch that can break the spell, we just need to acquire a few things first.” I say to Ada.

“What things do we need to acquire, Mr. Catori?” She said coyly with a smile. This woman doesn’t know what she’s doing to me, or maybe she does.

“First we will go to the place of your birth.”

The next morning we traveled on foot back to the human village.

Ada needed to collect soil from the place she was born. She had to collect it on her own or it would not work. We also needed to speak to her mother to get her family’s gemstone. Once we procured these items, we would return to pack lands and take the soil from her fathers resting place. I believe that would be the most painful so I wanted to do it last.

Ada POV

I collected the soil from outside of the Warlington birthing center. I’m anxious to see my mother and for her to meet Cyrus.

As I walk up the steps of my childhood home, the home I had spent days playing dolls and talking about our futures with my dear friend Maud. My future will be nothing like the one I had imagined for myself.

Before we could reach the door, Wharnam the butler, swung open the doors to greet me.

“Ms. Adalene, how was your trip?” He asks.

“My trip?” I repeat.

“Yes, your mother mentioned you had taken a trip with a friend and that she didn’t know when you would arrive home.” Wharnam says raising an eyebrow in confusion.

“Oh yes. My trip has been lovely but it seems it’s not over just yet. I just stopped in to see mother on my way out of town.

“I shall call her down, would you like her to meet you in the sitting room?”

“That would be fine, Wharnam.” I say with a smile.

Wharnam has been the family butler for as long as I can remember. He’s a gentle and kind man who has always made me feel safe.

Cyrus and I sat, waiting for mother to join us.

She walked in carrying a tray of finger sandwiches. She never let the staff do things that she could do herself.

“Hello my darling.” She says, setting the tray on the coffee table in front of us.

I stand to hug her and she squeezes me tightly.

“How are you? I know it’s only been a few days since I’ve seen you, but I can’t help but miss my favorite daughter.” She says with a smile.

“I’m your only daughter.” I retort.

“Well, my only daughter, it seems Mayor Redwood’s son, Alfred, was attacked on the night of your party.” Mother says in a questioning tone. “Just after you disappeared.”

“Well, I would say how fortunate, however that isn’t very lady like.” I smile at my already smiling mother.

“I will miss you my sweet Ada.” She said, her smile falling.

“Mother, do you have any idea about the Stonewell family stone?” I ask changing the subject to ease the thought of missing her.

“Your father told me to hide it after he used it to cast a spell to keep us safe. How do you know about the stone?”

“I was told I need it to break the curse.”

“Adalene, what curse?” She demanded.

“When the witch cast the spell to hide us, he also cursed me. He locked away my wolf to keep me from becoming alpha and queen.”

“I see. The stone is very important to your lineage. If something should happen to the stone, it would end the Stonewell line.”

“The Stonewell line will end if we do not get the stone to break the curse. How can Ada continue the line without her wolf. She could not bare children without her mate and she cannot mate without her wolf.” Cyrus says.

My mother raised her eyebrow. “The stone is hidden in the forest of enchantment. It should be a two day carriage ride from here. I’ll have a map, carriage, and food readied for you.”

Cyrus POV

I wait in the foyer for Ada to pack a few of her things. I look around at the intricate work in the moulding. Footsteps approach and in walks Queen Clara.

“Queen, I didn’t mean any disrespect. I only mean to help the princess.”

“I’m no queen, not anymore. How did you find us here?” She asks.

“I was out hunting and I saved Adalene from a mountain lion.” I say

“Yes, but how did you know who she was?”

I knead the back of my neck with my hand “I was just checking on her, after the incident. I wanted to make sure she was okay and I recognized you from the painting in my dads study. I’m Cyrus Catori. Son of Colson Catori, your husband’s beta.”

“Does she know?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Know what, your majesty?”

“That you’re her mate?”

“No. Not yet.” I say, dropping my hand.

“And why haven’t you told her?”

“She can’t feel the mate bond without her wolf. I’d like for her to discover the bond on her own when she gets her wolf.” I say.

“I see.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to either of us. She can’t feel for me the way I feel for her and I don’t want to put that on her.

“Maybe she doesn’t feel the mate bond, but there is a bond and she feels it very strongly. Here’s the map, be very careful and take care of my daughter.”

“You have my word, Queen Clara.”