Speaking of which...
To break the curse, she needed to get all four brothers together willing to have sex with Mariselle, and still hadn’t come up with a clever enough plan. From what she’d witnessed a few minutes before, Griffin wasn’t going to willingly share her with anyone, unless there was a compelling enough reason, which there obviously was. She just needed to find a way to get the message across without getting too involved.
She left the bedchamber and decided that she should leave for West Haven soon. Still aroused from earlier, she snuck into Aiden’s bedchamber first, to see what kind of hedonistic adventure he was involved in. Noticing that he was alone and in deep slumber, she sat down next to him on the bed. As she watched him, an idea came to her. She placed her hand on his head and began manipulating his dreams.
40
Aiden walked through the woods, near his family’s home. He knew that he was dreaming because the castle was still in pristine shape and he’d personally helped to demolish it.
“Aiden.”
He turned toward the voice and felt his blood run cold.
It was Angelique.
She held out a sealed piece of parchment.
“What is that?” he asked, making no move toward her.
“The answer you seek.”
“To what?”
“To end the curse.”
He walked over and took it from her. Ripping it open, he couldn’t read what was inside because he words were illegible. He looked up and was about to inform her when he noticed a different woman standing in her place. She had jet-black hair, pale skin, and eyes the color of amethyst.
“Do not fear me. I’m here to help you,” she said softly.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Someone who wants to help you save your family and kingdom from extinction.”
“You want to help end the curse?”
“Yes. But, only you can end it. You, your brothers, and Mariselle.”
Confused, he asked what she meant.
“When Angelique cursed your family, she added a passage your mother didn’t hear.”
“I don’t understand. What passage?”
“I’m not allowed to tell you, but if you pay Quillon a visit, he’ll figure things out for you.”
Quillon was said to be a prophet, although Aiden had never met the man. Many believed he was just a crazy old coot who drank too much and talked out of his ass.
“Why can’t you just tell me?” he asked, watching as she began to disappear before his eyes.
She ignored him. “Quillon will tell you how to break the curse. It won’t make sense, but you must believe him and you must talk your brothers into working with you. It will be hardest for Griffin, but you must make him understand that there is no other way.”
“Why will it be the hardest for him?”
“Because he already loves her,” she replied and then disappeared completely.
Aiden woke up and stared at the ceiling. The dream had seemed so life-like. He wondered if there was anything to it but then shrugged it off. It was just a dream. The curse would be broken once Mariselle became pregnant. He was sure of it.
He sighed and took a deep breath.
Why the hell does it smell like Jasmine in here?
Turning over, he stared in shock when he saw the apparition standing next to him. It was the woman with from his dream.
“Talk to Quillon,” she whispered, her eyes burning into his. “And remember… it’s the only way.”
Before he could question her, she disappeared.
Shaken, he stood up and waved his hand through the flowery-scented air, wondering if it was possible that he was still in the midst of a dream.
Aiden grabbed the jug of wine sitting next to his bed and poured himself a cup. Although he was pissed at Gaylen, it was times like this that he really needed to know what the hell was going on. He wasn’t about to seek out Quillon. Not now at least. It would be the very last resort.
41
THE NEXT MORNING, Mariselle woke up alone in Griffin’s chamber. Not knowing what else to do, she snuck back to her own room, where Shawna and June were already waiting for her. Fortunately, they didn’t ask why she’d been wandering the castle in just a chemise.
“Could you please draw me a bath?” she asked them, wanting to soothe the ache between her legs. Griffin had made love to her twice, after the first time, and all she wanted to do was soak in the tub to relieve the soreness.
“Of course, Milady,” Shawna said, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
After preparing the tub, the two women left and Mariselle undressed and climbed inside. She closed her eyes and was starting to drift away, when she heard someone enter her bedchamber.
“Oh, it’s you,” she said, relieved to find King Griffin standing above her.
With a smirk, he stuck his hand inside of the warm water and caressed her breast. “Expecting someone else?”
“No,” she replied, as he circled her puckered nipple with his finger and then pinched it. “Ah.”
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Mariselle?” he asked, drinking her nakedness in.
She smiled up at him. “I may have been told by you once or twice last night. Of course, it was in the heat of the moment. I’ve heard that men will say anything if it will get them what they want.”
Frowning, he looked her in the eye. “I meant it. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Even more so than Georgina?”
He grunted. “There is no comparison. If I could make you my queen, I would jump at the chance.”
Her smile fell. After everything that had happened, he wasn’t going to make an honest woman out of her apparently.
“Don’t look at me like that Mariselle,” he said, frowning. “My hands are tied in this matter. It was why I didn’t want to bed you in the first place. I knew you wanted more than what I could give you.”
“And yet, you did.”
“You didn’t give me much choice,” he said. “You provoked me into taking you.”
She laughed harshly. “Really? So, it was all my fault?”
Griffin ran a hand through his hair briskly and sighed. “Look, let’s not argue about this. What’s done is done. It was an amazing night. The most amazing night, to be honest. I hope you don’t regret it.”
She didn’t regret the sex. The truth was it had been better than she could have possible imagined. Even now she wanted his hands and mouth on her body. What she regretted was imagining that he was strong enough to leave the queen. “And what happens if I get pregnant? Will you admit the child is yours to Georgina?”
He was silent for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, Mariselle. I will claim the babe as being mine.”
She relaxed. “And, what will happen to me?”
“We’ll worry about that when the time comes. For now,” he dipped his fingers back into the water and gave her a wicked grin, “let’s forget about the queen and enjoy the moment.”
She slapped it away. “From what it sounds like, moments will be all we have,” she said, her heart heavy. Somehow she’d thought that what had happened between them would have changed everything. Knowing now that she’d been na?ve to think so, Mariselle decided that she wasn’t going to let her feelings for him get in the way of what was right. She wasn’t going to be anyone’s whore. Marriage is what she wanted and at least Aiden had promised it to her. The truth was Mariselle was starting to fancy Aiden almost as much as Griffin. Especially after the conversation the two were having at the moment. She could at least try to be true to Aiden from now, especially if he might very well end up being her husband.
“You knew that last night,” he said, his eyes dipping below her neck again. “I never promised you anything.”
She covered her breasts with her hand and tried again. “You promised me a husband. Since you can’t give that to me, perhaps Aiden can.”
His silvery blue eyes burned with jealousy. Instead of giving her the answer she wanted, Griffin took a step back and nodded reluctantly. “Yes. Perhaps he can and should. I’ll leave you to your bath.”
“Thank you,” she said, trying not to cry.
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