The Cursed Series, Parts 3 & 4 (Cursed #3-4) - Rebecca Donovan Page 0,163

on mine.

“Try to relax, love. Nice, easy breaths,” Olivia’s soothing voice sings. “Focus on my words. Breathe in through your nose. Out through your mouth. Nice and slow.”

I find my way back to her. My surroundings coming into focus. Everyone is gathered around me, their faces mirrors of concern.

Kaden is crouched by my side, his face distraught. Maggie is behind Olivia, just as worried. Nick and Niall hover by the door, giving me space, while Julia … has disappeared.

I search Kaden’s eyes, seeking the slightest reassurance that he’s not about to break my heart.

He sets a warm hand on my cheek, caressing it gently with his thumb. “How are you feeling?”

“Okay,” I whisper, suddenly very aware of all the eyes on me.

“Can you tell us what happened?” Olivia asks calmly.

“I don’t know.” I try to explain, “It felt like I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was suffocating or something.”

“I think you were having a panic attack,” Olivia says. “Were you upset?”

I burst into tears and throw my arms around Kaden’s neck. He stumbles, catching me in his arms.

“It’s okay. I’m here,” he coos reassurances, rocking me against him. “I’m here.”

Everyone retreats into the house, giving us time alone.

“I’m so afraid of losing you,” I stutter in my hysteria. “I can’t lose you, Kaden. I will die.”

“You’re not losing me,” he vows passionately. “Not ever. I promise. You’re my entire world, Faye. From the blades of grass to the stars in the sky. They all belong to you.”

I slowly raise my head to take him in. His face is crumpled with unease.

“Please don’t cry,” he begs. “My heart can’t handle it. Not when I know I have to leave you tonight.” He pauses. “Maybe I can leave tomorrow. I’ll figure out another way.”

I swallow back the tightness in my throat and wipe away the tears. “No, your mother will never forgive you if you miss lunch with her. You’re flying back to London tomorrow night. I don’t want her hating me.”

“She is difficult to win over.” He offers a small, teasing smile. “But you’re more important.”

“I’m sorry,” I say weakly. “I’m being so emotional. I feel ridiculous, causing a scene like that.”

“You’re passionate. It’s one of the many things I love about you.” Kaden brushes his lips gently against mine. “Are you feeling any better?”

I nod. Kaden looks toward the slider where Maggie waits inside, holding a package wrapped in colorful paper. She opens the door and steps out.

“You totally freaked me out,” she says, sitting in the chair across from where Kaden is cradling me in his lap. “Please tell me you’re not dying or anything.”

I let out a broken laugh. “Not dying.”

“Good. Because we got you something … to remember us by. Well, mostly me since you’ll be seeing this guy soon enough.” She sets the gift in front of me. I look between them, questioning. “Hurry up and open it!”

I tear the paper and find an intricately carved box with a scene reminiscent of a fairytale etched on the lid. A girl is placing flowers into her basket while a fox hides in waiting within the branches of an apple tree.

“Look inside,” Kaden coaxes, his eyes sparkling.

Flipping up the lid, I find an ornate skeleton key tied to a long ribbon and a leather-bound book with embossed gold-foil lettering. It’s a book of fairytales.

“The book is from me,” Maggie explains. “It’s the real fairytales, not the puffy, pathetic versions. And Kaden found the box in Germany.”

“For our letters,” he explains. “And you can wear the key that locks it—that way, I’ll always be with you. You can put it on something more secure than the ribbon if you’d like.”

Kaden removes the key and drapes the ribbon around my neck.

“It’s beautiful,” I croak, tears cascading down my cheeks. “I’ll never take it off.”

I’m utterly ashamed for ever questioning Kaden’s love and devotion or Maggie’s friendship. The thought that I believed they could ever betray me makes me sick to my stomach.

I grapple Maggie into a fierce hug. She yelps in surprise. And I smother Kaden in a completely inappropriate kiss that makes Maggie whistle, impressed by my brazenness—for once.

“I love you both,” I exclaim. “Thank you for loving me too.”

There are more tears when Kaden leaves. He kisses me a thousand more times, promising to call in the morning, as early as Parker wakes. Maggie offers to stay the night, which I take her up on, not wanting to be alone. At least, not in my room. It’s impossible