she was vulnerable and be worthy of her trust.
Not that he wasn’t worthy of her trust if he acted on this thing they both obviously wanted, but . . . she just wanted him to be better. She wanted him to be more than Alec Marsh. She needed to feel like she meant more, too.
Why did her feelings have to be so complicated? It wasn’t practical. Not in the least.
Phillip put his cup down on the counter and took her hand. “It’s been a pleasure, Zuri Davis. I’m happy you’re in Ever After.”
Then he did something devastating.
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed the most chaste of kisses on her knuckles and left.
She flopped down in front of the roaring fire and held her hand close to her heart.
Oh, she was in so much trouble.
Her sister had been right.
Speaking of Zeva, she grabbed the phone to text her and remembered the earlier text she’d received.
Zuri opened it, expecting a text from her sister, but instead, it was from Xan—Alec.
Can we talk?
Her first instinct was to say hell no they couldn’t talk. Or ask him what he thought they had to talk about.
Then Zuri remembered her wish. She’d asked for her heart’s desire.
Double-checking the time stamp on the text, she realized he’d texted her right after she’d made her wish.
Was hearing from Alec her heart’s desire?
Had her wish come true?
Chapter 5
Zuri Davis was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
She was smart, and obviously had a huge, loving heart all wrapped up in an hourglass shape that he couldn’t stop thinking about getting his hands on.
Could he be so lucky that she’d be the one to break his curse?
He’d wanted to kiss her earlier. That moment when their eyes had met and their gazes locked, it had seemed like that moment had stretched into eternity, but was still somehow over way too soon.
He kept remembering how she’d said she didn’t want a relationship, but the fact that she’d tossed the coin just as he’d regained human form wasn’t lost on him.
At one time, Phillip wouldn’t have doubted he was the answer to someone’s wish. He’d been arrogant and really had thought he was a gift.
Now, he wasn’t so sure.
Phillip had promised her the truth, and he’d give it to her. After she learned about magic. He was sure that if she decided to stay in Ever After, the godmothers would tell her.
Which meant he’d also have to tell her what he’d done to make Petty angry enough to turn him into a frog.
He should probably also introduce her to Hunter. At some point. If she met him before he could warn her about his . . . condition . . . well, it could be traumatic for both of them. After all, she was bound to find her way down into his abode one way or another.
Speaking of the man, the myth, the Beast . . . he could hear Hunter’s claws on the marble steps.
Just in time, too.
Phillip noticed his friend’s cloak was a brighter red than he’d ever seen it, and his facial fur was neatly groomed.
He’d taken extra grooming steps to go visit the Evil Queen.
“Not. One. Word.” Hunter eyed him.
“I just noticed you put in some effort.” Phillip didn’t know if he’d have taken it that far, but he wasn’t going to give Hunter too much grief over it. A little, to be sure. But no more than necessary to keep the bonds of their friendship solid.
Hunter needed a little teasing now and then.
“It’s not easy to groom facial fur with these claws, brother.”
“I imagine not.”
While, at first, Phillip had been excited about the possibility of Ravenna being able to help him with this curse, that excitement had faded. He didn’t want to get his hopes up for no reason. So really, this visit to the dark castle was more for Hunter than himself.
He knew his friend had a major thing for the dark queen.
Not that he blamed him. Ravenna was beautiful, and slightly terrifying.
“Did you get her a gift?” Hunter asked. “We have to take her a tribute.”
What did one take to a woman such as Ravenna? He had zero idea.
“Chocolate? The hearts of her enemies? Ah, the hearts of her enemies dipped in chocolate?” Hunter asked hopefully.
“Those are all great suggestions, and a good thing, too. Because I forgot we needed to take her a tribute.”
“Damn it, man!” Hunter swore. Then he perked. “Cheese. We could take her cheese.”
“How did we get from