Dark Curse (Darkhaven Saga #5) - Danielle Rose Page 0,18

him to see his sire become so invested in another person. Still, I try to be respectful, because even though we have never spoken about it directly, Jasik and I have become something more than just friends. We both need each other in ways I have never experienced, and if life would stop spinning out of control for just a minute, I might have the opportunity to find out what it is like to be loved by someone else.

I pull away from Will, and as I take a few steps back, I adjust my shirt to make sure no skin is showing. This has become a mindless routine now. Sometimes, I do not even realize I am doing it. Like now, as Will eyes me curiously, watching as I pull down all the edges of my shirt. My cheeks burn.

“I have missed you,” I confide, both in honesty and to distract everyone from witnessing my act.

Will smiles, his dimples piercing his perfectly smooth skin. He was lucky. When Liv died, his link to my coven was severed. For him, it ended with her the moment Hikari killed her. Liv paid the ultimate cost before I was able to hex my coven, so the burden I carry is never on Will. I hold it all, even though he feels responsible for my actions.

Will and I never spoke about that night. He left as soon as I started feeling better, and after that, I never shared my agony over losing Liv with anyone. She might have been molded into the shape of a monster—courtesy of my former coven—but she was once my best friend. We thought we would grow old together.

Looking back, we were crazy to think we would ever grow up. After all, we lived in Darkhaven. We hunted vampires. Nothing about our life was normal. If this place was nothing else, it was a thief of youth.

“Tell me about your travels,” I say as I grab on to his hand and pull him back to the breakfast table. I take my seat and keep my gaze on him. I am smiling so widely, my face actually hurts, but I cannot help it. Will brings joy out of me, and I really need happiness right about now.

As I sit, I rest my arms on the table, noticing the broken glass piled atop my plate. When I stood, I must have knocked over my glass of orange juice, because the pile of napkins are stained orange, and my glass is nowhere to be found. I push aside my plate and return my focus to Will, eager to hear about the wonderful places he has been.

“Well, I have some good news,” he says, side-eyeing Holland, who immediately freezes. He was lifting another forkful of eggs into his mouth, but now, the utensil is hovering in the air, eggs cooling as he waits for Will to continue. Holland drops his fork and wipes his mouth with his hand.

“What have you learned?” Holland asks, leaning forward. He rests his elbows on the table, while I sink farther into my chair.

I cross my arms over my chest, already annoyed by this turn in the conversation. I was hoping for exciting details about exotic places I will never get to visit. I want to live through Will’s adventures and pretend I will one day travel too. The last thing I want to talk about is Will’s discovery.

I want to hear about his trip, but only the fun parts. I want to hear how he is living. Where has he been? Who has he met? What has he seen? Shortly after I spelled my coven, Will made a pact with Holland to help him find a cure. He left the manor that night with the intention of traveling the world, meeting with powerful covens in an attempt to save me. And he takes his work far too seriously. He never writes, he rarely calls, and when I finally see him, he is all about business.

“I met with some witches who showed me how to sever the link to Ava’s mother,” Will says.

This catches my attention. “That is not possible,” I say. “You cannot reverse the effects of black magic.”

I might not be an expert in the black arts, but Holland and I have done more than enough research to know these facts.

Will shakes his head. “You are not understanding. I can sever your connection to the witches by cutting that link. I cannot reverse the black magic. The